Member Since: 08 Sep 2016
Location: Henley
Posts: 9
Disco Smokes like a steam engine when in traffic...
Hey Everyone,
First post - and apologies if this is covered elsewhere, I can't seem to find anything
Always been keen on a landrover and have now had my Disco 3 for around 6 months. What I've noticed is that on idle, especially in traffic when in drive, she starts to smoke HEAVILY after a few minutes. Once traffic clears and I'm able to pick up some speed, she clears up and behaves.
I thought this was injector (and may still well be) but I had them removed, cleaned, re-seated and tested at the same time - with no fault barring the rear ones leaking, which was done above.
My average mpg on an open road is over 30, which from what I can tell, isn't too bad.
I'm pulling out my hair trying to figure out what on earth could be causing this whitish coloured smoke...
I've tried to book in at LandRover directly for a diagnostic (which I know will rip me several new ones), but their "first availability" is in April - note, it's the last few days of February now...
Does anyone know where I can take it for a proper diagnostic to check across the injectors for outputs and egr functionality? In in the Southwest (Oxfordshire).
Thanks in Advance for any assistance!
Kind Regards
23rd Feb 2017 4:32 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
Are you sure it's not steam? If it's white smoke, then it's injectors. How many miles on them?
23rd Feb 2017 5:17 pm
Discogaz
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
Give Rovertune in Reading a call, not a million miles away from you.
23rd Feb 2017 5:20 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72787
Gareth wrote:
Are you sure it's not steam? If it's white smoke, then it's injectors. How many miles on them?
If it is steam could be the EGR coolers.
23rd Feb 2017 5:22 pm
Shade
Member Since: 08 Sep 2016
Location: Henley
Posts: 9
Don't think it's steam and it does smell of unburnt diesel, so happy to assume it's smoke for now.
She also battles to start if she's been standing a while, and sometimes has a mild misfire for a few seconds before calming down.
I'm more than happy to stick with the injectors being faulty, but which ones and how can I test them?
I see Rovertune have been mentioned - I'll try giving them a shout in the morning.
Thanks
23rd Feb 2017 7:28 pm
tayaste
Member Since: 15 May 2013
Location: Chester
Posts: 7633
Fuel leak off pipes or knackered injector (or both). Have you checked for pooling diesel around the injector?
23rd Feb 2017 7:37 pm
Shade
Member Since: 08 Sep 2016
Location: Henley
Posts: 9
I don't want to sound clueless... but I have no choice...
*how*?
I've scoured Youtube for any videos, and tried to look under the hood - but it looks a bit daunting to be honest - I'm not afraid to take off the cover on top of the engine, but is it that simple?
Would I need to check for pooling with engine running, cold, primed?
Thanks!
23rd Feb 2017 7:52 pm
tayaste
Member Since: 15 May 2013
Location: Chester
Posts: 7633
Yep just remove the cover, there might be a small injector mat to unclip too. Then check for diesel where the injectors seat in the cylinder head. 6 injectors to check. Shouldn't need the engine running if it's already been leaking.
I would expect smoke from The engine if the injectors had fuel pooling around the seals as it gets pretty hot. And would smell like diesel.
I assume the "smoke" is coming from the exhaust and not from under the bonnet.
If it's exhaust then it's probably a leaking injector or two and the fuel collects in the exhaust and then burns off as you pull away. Or it could be turbo.
But really guessing without codes/looking at the car.Mark.
2006, D3 SE Auto - gone but not forgotten.
2014 BMW 530d M Sport Tourer.
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
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23rd Feb 2017 8:28 pm
Shade
Member Since: 08 Sep 2016
Location: Henley
Posts: 9
Yeah, it's not under the bonnet, its out of the exhaust.
I'm not sure it's turbo as it's white smoke, but the leaking injectors is what makes sense to me.
I'll check for pooling first - failing that try and see with Rovertune.
Thanks All!
24th Feb 2017 10:04 am
Shade
Member Since: 08 Sep 2016
Location: Henley
Posts: 9
An update to this - so, one of the injectors had a cracked pipe, which was replaced, and another wasn't sealing properly, which was reseated with the proper kit.
and.... no luck - she still smokes like a train. It doesn't start immediately either - only after actually sitting in traffic for 5-10 minutes - which would lead me to agree with the comment around it collecting in the exhaust and then slowly burning off - but all the injectors have been tested and none have shown any faults?
Having driven around 70 miles on the motorway, she's up at 30mpg - which is a little heavy if I read most people reaching near 35 (unless they're exaggerating), which does point to poor fuel management somewhere along the line?
Anything else I can check?
18th May 2017 11:52 am
Discogaz
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
If it's white smoke, then I'd agree that it's probably turbo related as over fuelling
normally gives white smoke.
The MPG you are getting is average if not doing to many short hops so I'd get the
turbo checked out soon as you don't want to experience a runaway.
18th May 2017 4:11 pm
Discogaz
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
Let's try that again.
Overfuelling is usually black smoke whereas I have experienced a turbo seal failing
and that gave clouds of white smoke.
18th May 2017 4:12 pm
Shade
Member Since: 08 Sep 2016
Location: Henley
Posts: 9
Was wondering what happened on that last post
On the white smoke, shouldn't that only be under load then? It wouldn't explain the more cranks than usual when cold either?
I'm happy to test the turbo - but how?
18th May 2017 5:47 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Quite common on common rail motors for knackered injector/s to make white smoke at idle after idling for a short period of time, this is the exact reason we got rid on the wifes audi 3.0tdi, she as usual hadnt noticed and I wondered what the hell was going on as a cloud wafted past the side window!
Poor starting is also a sign of injector going bad and letting to much fuel return thus not allowing the rail to build up enough pressure to start the engine.
Has it been misfueled at some time?
I have heard but not seen it myself that removing the cat can cause white smoke as the cat does a good job of hiding the excess fuel.
Google search common rail difficult to start and get reading
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