As video below

 

Injectors have been removed, tested, new seals, and refitted, but apparently it's still smoking like this.  It's basically a white/grey acrid smoke on light to medium throttle which turns black as more throttle applied.

 

With injectors ruled out (at the moment) what else can it be?  It's starting to get to the point where I am thinking a full engine swap is necessary but that would be mega £££ simply because of my mods and work done.  Rep;acing the head alone would be around £2k for porting and valves etc.  Speaking of valves...  Could stem seals be causing it?

 

Car runs and sounds "normal" as it usually does.  No odd noises etc.  Just this very annoying smoke.

 

It could be anywhere that can let oil into the combustion chambers,so valve stem seals/piston rings/turbo seals/cracked head or block.

Is the oil consumption noticeable?

Have you removed inlet tract pipe work and checked for oil?

Turbo has a clean bill of health thankfully (good job as its not very old at all )

 

But yes, a knackered head in some form could be a culprit but guess that is difficult to diagnose without fully removing it etc.  Annoying as just had cambelt done....   :(

 

Oil consumption is fair.  But I have also been suffering with lower than normal fuel economy (even bearing in mind my 130% nozzles) so have never been too sure what the smoke is.  I thought it was fuel mainly.

 

It recently also had Darkside boost pipework fitted along with FMIC, and there was no evidence then of an issue.

Have you tried a different remap to see if it changes at all?

Would help rule out other things maybe and help narrow down the fault.

Do a compression test to rule that out.

IIRC you've recently changed mappers?

Have you got your old map you could try?

As your car at Combe last year was putting out very little smoke.

When you say 'fair' oil consumption how much are you talking?

That'll be painful if it is the head as I know you've spent a lot on it :(

Does it happen at high revs?

Happens at lower revs more.  If I cruise along at say 3000rpm, the smoke is actually a lot less than just chugging along at 1700rpm.

 

Compression test has been done and is fine.  Not losing any water.

 

Not sure what other easier things to try first.  I don't know what symptoms a failing tandem pump might give but I am not aware of any symptoms like this anyway.

Swap your map back is easiest thing to try.

Happens at lower revs more.  If I cruise along at say 3000rpm, the smoke is actually a lot less than just chugging along at 1700rpm.

 

Compression test has been done and is fine.  Not losing any water.

 

Not sure what other easier things to try first.  I don't know what symptoms a failing tandem pump might give but I am not aware of any symptoms like this anyway.

 

Check the cam, rockers and followers next.

They have been checked over during the recent injector removal and refit, and found to be OK.  All a little concerning and think I will need a new head, or at least whip this one off to see what could be wrong underneath,

Has the start of injection been altered low down the RPM?

Has the start of injection been altered low down the RPM?

 

Nothing has been altered whilst these symptoms have developed.   I've had no mapping alterations since about November last year.  This has only really developed in the last 3 months or so.

 

i am hoping to get a "safe" map put on as a test shortly  (Have the map, can't get it on the car ) 

Was just wondering as I had a similar thing with dssr 90s until I tweaked the timing maps.

How much oil is it using?(I'll ask again presuming you've missed it the first time)

Not much point in taking the head off if a compression test shows all is good,and it's running fine and not down on power.

Hi jason, does it do it when the engine is hot or just on warmup?

also, does it fire first time or do you have to crank over to start it?

when you start it from cold does it smoke more than usual and sort of cough for a few seconds?

Timing out?

Cambelt a tooth or 2 out?

Cracked valve guide?

So much speculation...

Seems like it's going to be expensive whatever it is :(

So much speculation...

Seems like it's going to be expensive whatever it is :(

 

I agree Hutchy, it 'feels' mechanical rather than map related, detailed diagnosis is required.

 

Amazed no-one has suggested changing the fuel filter yet 

I agree Hutchy, it 'feels' mechanical rather than map related, detailed diagnosis is required.

Amazed no-one has suggested changing the fuel filter yet

personally i think its fueling related, or to be more exact, incomplete combustion of the fuel to an extent that raw diesel is entering the exhaust system, this is obvious because the smoke is white, engine oil burns blue.

jason needs to come forward and say more specifically what the symptoms are then i could make a more educated guess.

personally i think its fueling related, or to be more exact, incomplete combustion of the fuel, this is obvious because the smoke is white, engine oil burns blue.

jason needs to come forward and say more specifically what the symptoms are then i could make a more educated guess.

 

Agreed, what I mean by mechanical is that a component that has failed or gone out of spec. If the engine has uniform good compression that rules out pistons, rings and valve seating, if the coolant isn't pressurising that rules out HG, if the valves are opening and closing correctly that rules out camshaft or timing and if the unit injectors are operating correctly and uniformly that rules them out which leaves a wiring loom or sensor fault.

I have to concur with Tom, too much fuel, injectors might not be shutting off properly or the nozzle is shot dumping fuel in rather than atomising it, a bit like an old Gardiner truck engine on cold start!

 

 I know a compression test has been done and all is ok but, if the oil control ring is damaged or worn would that allow oil into the cylinder?

if the oil control ring were broke youd get a constant blue from the exhaust, if it was guides or seals it would only be on overrun.

before we go pointing randomly at components, more input is needed, it could just be a burnt out glow plug oor contaminated fuel or another external factor.