white smoke from CDTi, good, bad or just ugly?

Starman · 22nd June 2009, 17:17

Good evening everyone.

I have always thought white smoke from an engine was particually bad but after reading a few posts I'm not so clear!

Today I had to take my mother to hospital and needed to get there quite urgently. I never advocate speeding but on a clear country straight road I put my foot down.

I clocked the speedo just over 90mph and couldn't say what the revs were at as its an auto, with foot fairy planted on the gas pedal but not fully down.

Looked in the rear view to see a few hundred yards or so behind me a James Bondy stile white smoke screen!

Took foot off gas and let speed and revs die away and smoke to stop and kept going...only not as fast. On the way back I took her, ( the car not me mother!!) Up to 80 ish slowly and no smoke!

I have just put Rons box on and set it to low maf hi torque and hi power. Have a new Jetex air filter, have cleaned the EGR and replaced the PCV.. I do still have a howling from somewhere when the revs come up to 2k or so and have new O rings but yet to fit them!!

Is this white smoke something to be concerned about as I see some posts saying it could just be unburnt fuel...

Any advice is gleefully asimillated.... Thanks for reading peeps!!

James.uk · 23rd June 2009, 01:18

Hi Steve. Yep white smoke is normally unburnt fuel, on cold mornings it can sometimes be steam from water in the exhuast, but that soon clears..

Sounds to me like you have not got the Ronbox setup right yet.. try tuner on 3 with your MAF on low. But make sure you have ignition turned right off when changing any settings. :lol:
.

Devilish · 23rd June 2009, 21:55

I bought a PB maf from Ron as well, to eliminate all this maf setting malarkey and smoke buisness, take a look at my 'Synergy 2 time' post. I use what ever setting I like and no smoke at all. I can tell the difference betwen torque and respone at different settings.
I recommend a PB maf.
Have you done the the air intake mod, and the helper spring mod

CDTi 137,000 miles, fully synthetic oil change every 10,000 miles from new. Runs like a dream.

When I do a lot of pulling away from roundabouts on 70MPH roads I set it to 10, on Mway I set it to 10, around town I set it to 10

I may be wrong but I know of no one who has fitted PB maf as well and had smoke issues

JohnDotCom · 23rd June 2009, 22:17

Quote:

I may be wrong but I know of no one who has fitted PB maf as well and had smoke issues

Generally Smoke (Darker variety) that people have reported is the EGR or more worrying the PCV Filter clogged.

Not seen White smoke on a Diesel of ours to be honest so cannot advise at present.
(other than the normal unburnt fuel etc from any make of car).

Devilish · 23rd June 2009, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starman

I do still have a howling from somewhere when the revs come up to 2k or so

me too, I found out it was comming from my mouth

GrahamP · 24th June 2009, 00:11

Normally white smoke is usually associated with too much air or not enough fuel. Certainly on the big Deltics usually 3 or 4 injectors had failed with 36 cylinders the only indication was white smoke from the exhaust. The only other time I've come across it is when a master cylinder seals/diaphragm are leaking brake fluid into the inlet manifold.

Starman · 24th June 2009, 06:59

Hi guys. Thanks for your replies. Unburnt fuel seems the favorite which is somewhat reassuring.

I didn't clock the revs as was concentrating on the road but they were high. I wondered whether something more sinister was going on because of the high revs!!
Thoughts of about to blow turbo and nasty stuff like that..!!

I have done the mk2 intake mod. I shall have another look for a loose turbo pipe or likes of!

Many thanks for the help again. Best wishes.

eddybrown · 24th June 2009, 12:48

From Google:

Quote:

White Smoke

Normally means that the fuel injected into the cylinder is not burning correctly. The smoke will burn your eyes.

Engine/pump timing out
Fuel starvation to the pump causing the pumps timing not to operate correctly
Low engine compression
Water/petrol in the fuel

22nd June 2009, 17:17	#1
Starman Posted a thing or two 03 CDTi Tourer Conn SE auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Shrewsbury Posts: 1,405 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 4 Posts	white smoke from CDTi, good, bad or just ugly? Good evening everyone. I have always thought white smoke from an engine was particually bad but after reading a few posts I'm not so clear! Today I had to take my mother to hospital and needed to get there quite urgently. I never advocate speeding but on a clear country straight road I put my foot down. I clocked the speedo just over 90mph and couldn't say what the revs were at as its an auto, with foot fairy planted on the gas pedal but not fully down. Looked in the rear view to see a few hundred yards or so behind me a James Bondy stile white smoke screen! Took foot off gas and let speed and revs die away and smoke to stop and kept going...only not as fast. On the way back I took her, ( the car not me mother!!) Up to 80 ish slowly and no smoke! I have just put Rons box on and set it to low maf hi torque and hi power. Have a new Jetex air filter, have cleaned the EGR and replaced the PCV.. I do still have a howling from somewhere when the revs come up to 2k or so and have new O rings but yet to fit them!! Is this white smoke something to be concerned about as I see some posts saying it could just be unburnt fuel... Any advice is gleefully asimillated.... Thanks for reading peeps!! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

23rd June 2009, 21:55	#3
Devilish Been round the block 75 Tourer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cannock Posts: 4,126 Thanks: 3 Thanked 189 Times in 121 Posts	I bought a PB maf from Ron as well, to eliminate all this maf setting malarkey and smoke buisness, take a look at my 'Synergy 2 time' post. I use what ever setting I like and no smoke at all. I can tell the difference betwen torque and respone at different settings. I recommend a PB maf. Have you done the the air intake mod, and the helper spring mod CDTi 137,000 miles, fully synthetic oil change every 10,000 miles from new. Runs like a dream. When I do a lot of pulling away from roundabouts on 70MPH roads I set it to 10, on Mway I set it to 10, around town I set it to 10 I may be wrong but I know of no one who has fitted PB maf as well and had smoke issues __________________ If at first you don't succeed, hide the evidence

24th June 2009, 00:11	#6
GrahamP Loves to post Rover 75 2.0 CDT Club Automatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Park Gate Posts: 438 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Normally white smoke is usually associated with too much air or not enough fuel. Certainly on the big Deltics usually 3 or 4 injectors had failed with 36 cylinders the only indication was white smoke from the exhaust. The only other time I've come across it is when a master cylinder seals/diaphragm are leaking brake fluid into the inlet manifold. __________________ Graham 3606 [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

24th June 2009, 06:59	#7
Starman Posted a thing or two 03 CDTi Tourer Conn SE auto Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Shrewsbury Posts: 1,405 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 4 Posts	Hi guys. Thanks for your replies. Unburnt fuel seems the favorite which is somewhat reassuring. I didn't clock the revs as was concentrating on the road but they were high. I wondered whether something more sinister was going on because of the high revs!! Thoughts of about to blow turbo and nasty stuff like that..!! I have done the mk2 intake mod. I shall have another look for a loose turbo pipe or likes of! Many thanks for the help again. Best wishes. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Last edited by Starman; 24th June 2009 at 07:13..

23rd June 2009, 01:18	#2
James.uk Passed Away 2002 Pale Blue. Rover 75 CDTi Connoisseur auto. 170K miles Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Near the M67. Posts: 14,509 Thanks: 199 Thanked 585 Times in 397 Posts	Hi Steve. Yep white smoke is normally unburnt fuel, on cold mornings it can sometimes be steam from water in the exhuast, but that soon clears.. Sounds to me like you have not got the Ronbox setup right yet.. try tuner on 3 with your MAF on low. But make sure you have ignition turned right off when changing any settings. :lol: .