Injection Pump Question and Smoke
 

During the last month or so my car has started to smoke a lot more than normal, even at hot idle. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with a small leak I'm seeing lately on the side of my injection pump? The leak is coming from a screw on the right side middle of the pump. I'm not sure what this screw is or why it would be leaking. It appears to be a very slow leak.
My car never used to smoke much at all when it was hot & not too bad when cold. Also, the idle is a lot rougher than it used to be. Should I get the injection timing checked? Can it go bad suddenly like this?

Thanks for any help!

What color is the smoke? Under what conditions do it smoke the worst? Has fuel consumption increased?

P E H

The smoke is white. It smokes worst when I accelerate when the engine is still cold. It's pretty bad at cold idle too. It didn't used to smoke much at all when it was hot, but now it lets out quite a bit at hot idle too, not as bad as cold, but still bad.

Mite wanna check your timing chain.

Could be just the timing. Its just like ignition (spark) timing. A diesel is a lot more sensative and the pump rotation is usually bolted down pretty good, but diesels are known for shaking bolts loose.

Jim, do you mean to check the mounting bolts? I'll do that tonight. Any idea what the bolt on the side is for? Is it a mounting bolt or some kind of adjustment? It's the one that is leaking a little.

Thanks!

Here's a picture of the bolt I'm talking about.
PEH, I forgot to mention, yes my fuel consumption has increased a little, I went from about 29mpg to around 27mpg, not dramatic, but noticeable.

Regarding the screw on the right side, do you mean right as
you look at it from the front of the car? If so, It could be
the fuel union screw, where the fuel line goes in. Perhaps
you are not seeing this because the view is blocked. The only
other bolt I see would be under that near the bottom and my
guess is that is for draining the pump. A small leak here is
unlikely the cause of your problem, you just
noticed it now. A new washer (sealing ring)
can be put on your to do list. If the previous
responses don't address the problem, I have
no further ideas, just be patient with your troubleshooting.

It's the Rack Linkage Pivot Bolt . . . SNUG it up . . . an Fagetaboutit

Well, I tried tightening up that bolt with a screwdriver, but it didn't move any. the washers behind the bolt are loose, so it looks like it should be able to tighten. Should I try a socket driver? I don't want to hurt anything by over doing it.
Also, I tried taking off the air cleaner cover to see if maybe the engine was starving for air, but that didn't help any.

Thanks for everyone's help so far!

Your PIC wasn't too good . . . you need to tak a CLOSER shot . . .

I took a better look at that rack linkage pivot bolt today & it isn't really a bolt. It's just a pin with a lock ring on the end. It looks like it's leaking pretty good too, there's a lot of black oily fuel, I think, under the engine & it's leaking when parked onto the driveway. The pin moves in & out about 1/2 to 1 MM & I'm doubting it's supposed to do that! I didn't see anything about it in my Haynes manual. Is there any way I can fix this or is it something a shop needs to take care of? Hope not, because it looks like the entire pump needs to be removed to get the pin out of there, it comes out toward the engine.

Thanks!

Anyone have any ideas on this one?? I'm kinda at a loss, seems like some internal seal went bad or something like that. I am curious as to why the fuel(?) leaking out of it is black though.

I know that this may seem like RADICAL THINKING . . . But, WHY don't you CLEAN IT UP to VERIFY WHERE the leak is originating from . . .

If I were at all uncertain where the leak was coming from you would be right, but there is no question that the leak is coming from that pivot bolt. I'll take your advise & clean it up just to make absolutely sure, but I get pleanty of the fuel on my finger when I wipe the bottom side of the bolt.