2.1 Occasional Smoky Start-up . . . Any Ideas?

Post by **wasserleaker** » 30 Mar 2007, 18:23

howdoo all,
my 2.1 DJ'd caravelle carat has got an intermittent smoking problem when starting up!
roughly once in about half a dozen startups from cold, it will chug and misfire, running roughly, immediately after starting, and throwing out smoke, until revved a bit, after which it clears it's throat and runs fine,
most of the time it will fire up and run fine, no smoke or spluttering,the engine has just been run in after a rebuild, and doesnt smoke at all or use any oil in normal use. done about 1500miles now.
it only does this when the engine is completely cold, i wonder if it's getting too rich a mixture when cold, but surely it would do it every time if that was the case, any one had similar problems and know what it could be ? ? thanks, Wasserleaker.

Post by **T3teedub** » 30 Mar 2007, 19:39

Could be that the engine is still bedding in. Could be that the smoke is unburnt fuel. These engines do often burn some oil anyway.

Post by **charlie brown syndrome** » 30 Mar 2007, 20:06

air flow meter,
i had a similar problem with my 2.1 dj,
i never got round to sorting it out as it never bothered me that much,
it would start ok but a bit spluttery and a bit smokey but after driving it for 5 mins it would run absolutly fine,
only ever did it when started first thing, or if the van had been left for a few hours,
i always presumed it was the air flow meter, or associated gubbins, because the smoke smelt the engine was over fuelling,

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 30 Mar 2007, 21:20

Yup - could be just one pot (barrel) not working until its warmed up. maybe a duff plug/lead?

Post by **wasserleaker** » 31 Mar 2007, 07:46

thanks for the above suggestions, going to have a good check over it t'day, see if anything needs re-tightening or any leaks since rebuild, and re check timing and C.O. level if my mate is at his workshop today!
not too sure the airflow meter is the right one, but know of a firm that does re-con ones which might be worth checking out.

Post by **T'Onion** » 03 May 2007, 17:40

did you ever get to the bottom of this ? only ask cos mine has just started puffing a wee bit , only from cold ...its fine and full off power, it hasnt lost any power , sounds sweet ,

think i'll whip the plugs out and have a look ,

Post by **wasserleaker** » 03 May 2007, 18:45

No, didn't really ever cure it T'onion, but doesn't do it as frequently now, every now and then tho when i start up from cold, it'll splutter and wheeze until i rev the engine for a few seconds, and it'll spew a bit of smoke out, as though there's a bit of oil residue in the system, then it will run smoke free and fine, its lessened now the rebuilt engine has got a few miles on it.

Post by **matt** » 03 May 2007, 18:52

a 2.1 wood nut bee a 2.1 with out a puff a smoke every now n then

bit like me

Post by **wasserleaker** » 03 May 2007, 19:08

Hey, Matt,
did you get your hands on a mountain board ? ?
used mine with me 4mtr kite at mablethorpe in a 20 mph wind on sat, still not too steady on it, but fell off less than the last outing!
give us a shout if you want to borrow it for a play about on, be good to meet up with a fellow local-ish 80-90 member

Post by **T'Onion** » 03 May 2007, 19:14

i'll keep an eye on it

cheers

matt tell torz's i have something for her

Post by **matt** » 03 May 2007, 19:29

I'll tell her Marky Mark

Wasser, sure will be good to meet up,
Met "brooky" from Leiscester
He had a Pendulum skate board, altered one o mine, and Its loads easier to ride..

Still lookin for a mountain board tho......

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 03 May 2007, 20:47

Hi guys, my dj was smoking on start up and it was one of the injectors leaking when the engine was switched off leaving a pool of petrol in one cylinder. To test just wip out the injectors, switch on the ignition, listen for the fuel pump to prime up, and watch the ends of the injectors, should only be a drop or two in a few minutes. Could also be the temp sender for the ecu, it's the one that's at the back of the thermostat housing. That also went on mine, and it was like running on choke all the time with the idle speed very high.
hope this helps and good luck.

Simon.

Post by **T'Onion** » 04 May 2007, 06:51

cheers Simon ,
sorry meant to say its a 2.1 on a carb

Post by **wasserleaker** » 04 May 2007, 16:26

the leaky injector theory makes sense, i did send mine to a place called Simtek a few months back to be ultrasonically cleaned, but after refitting them, found it misfired, and traced prob to a dead injector, which they had supposedly checked, replaced it with a 2nd hand one and it goes brilliantly, but will def. do a leak test on em. hadn't thought of that. cheers.

Post by **wasserleaker** » 04 May 2007, 16:35

suppose if i make sure im switched onto LPG when i turn the engine off, the injectors can't then leak as they're not in use ? thus stopping the smoky startup next time, just that i was told to drive the last mile or so of a journey switched back onto petrol, so it won't leave any gas in the low pressure pipework. will try it, and if that stops the smokin, it points to a leaky inj.