Hi, well I asked about some lumpy running which seemed to be getting better BUT we went up a hill and the revs dropped. Since then it has little power, lumpy running and a constant stream of white smoke from the exhaust. No despirately bad noises but quite upset I might have broke the car. Please help!

eerrr constant white smoke is not such a great sign. It means all the magic is escaping!

Sounds like headgasket has gone to me...Nothing MAJOR but still something to sort asap. Stop using the car if i were you.

Get it into a mechanic if you or your other half are not mechanically minded. The sooner the better. And if you drive it there make sure there is enough coolant in the car otherwise you could seize it on the way.

Take out the oil filler cap and look for any cream white sludge on it. There shouldnt be if the cars healthy so if there is.. theres a problem. (well there is anyway as it shouldnt be putting out white smoke (steam)

Keep us apprised.

Paul

All sound advice.

And kudos for knowing enough to know that the colour of the smoke, and when it appears, are important diagnostic aids.

Hiya,

I very carefully and extremely slowly drove to the garage - he said the head gasket had gone but would check timing as well. Next day he started the car again (starts very very easily) and looked for head gasket problems and didnt find any! The car still has lots of smoke and no power. Anyway he says there a mechanic up the road that is good with diesel. His garage is up a very steep hill so a tow truck was needed. Now wating to see if it is the pump or something else! Hope this isnt going to cost too much - car cant be worth more than £500 when well.

Mandie

I'm wondering about fuel timing or really FAQed stem oil seals (although I'd normally expect black or blue smoke respectively, if the volume is high enough engine oil burns white rather than blue).

I'm wondering about fuel timing or really FAQed stem oil seals (although I'd normally expect black or blue smoke respectively, if the volume is high enough engine oil burns white rather than blue).

Ken

I'm not too sure about small diesel engines.

But certainly on railway engines the smoke changes colour with engine temperature,

i.e a cold engine will billow clouds of white smoke.

I suppose it's less noticeable on smaller applications as they'll heat up quicker and they rev higher.

Although the fact that Mandie has stated the car has to be towed up hills,

seems to suggest an alarming loss of power!

So on a fairly low-tech diesel that means either,

fuel starvation or lack of compression.

(Actually that means I'm agreeing with you doesn't it)

cheers ... Darren

I've seen mis-timed fuelling cause severe lack of power.

Hiya,

Its back working again - apparently the caterlytic converter was so blocked the engine couldnt work - the first mechanic told me this means they took exhaust off and made a whole through it! Anyway thank you to everyone - especially Matlockgreen Recovery Garage

Mandie

ps all the earlier question about lack of power and engine braking were all fixed at the same time.

good news that its working again. Though be aware that means itll probably be wanting a new cat for the next mot.

All's well that ends well.

Link on MoT for diesels MOT UK car and vehicle MOT information equipment car servicing parts and spares - suspension wheel bearings drive shafts As you can see, there's no mention of an actual emissions test, so banging a hole through the cat is probably all it needs to be legal until the exhaust rusts through.

I'd be tempted to remove the CAT and stick a piece of pipe in it's place. As long as it doesn't smoke excessively then it will pass the MOT.

Will give you more power too (around 5-10 bhp I think).

Phil