Diesel running rough and hot

[psychonaut]

1.9 1Y diesel (from a pre-immobiliser Seat Ibiza), 1981 van

Okay all, I've recently replaced the glow-plugs and sorted out the glow-plug wiring on my van. As I needed to take the injectors out to replace the plugs, I took the opportunity to get them cleaned by a local injector specialist. I've replaced them and bled the fuel system. However, I have now got a lot of white smoke coming out of the exhaust under load (not like a thick fog, but certainly more than ever there was), a nasty rattling from the engine to accompany it, and injectors 3 and 4 are hot, as well as the fuel lines running to them. 1 and 2 are fine. The temperature gauge, which normally sits pretty much bang on the middle of the gauge, is sitting about three-quarters of the way around now. The whole engine, whilst not vibrating violently, is vibrating a lot more than it ever did previously.

Have I done something wrong putting the injectors and pipes back on, or failed to do something I should have done?

Any help or guidance gratefully accepted, as I can't afford to take her to a garage to be fettled at the moment

[ewenmaclean]

Hello,

it's possible you have an airlock on those two injectors - standard procedure is to run the engine and put a rag under the nut feeding the injectors, and loosen the nut for a while - then retighten. I'd do it on all your lines if I were you. Sorry if this is stating the obvious and you've already done this....

Ewen

[ewenmaclean]

Also - remember you've just changed you gauge temperature sender, so the gauge reading might be different anyway... although I've got my fingers crossed it's not a head gasket.....

[psychonaut]

Thanks Ewan. I thought about the head gasket too, let's hope it isn't, again.....

[kap]

I had the same problem but not the getting hot. changed the filter no different checked breather on tank they were ok. Cracked the nuts injector end and pump. up and down the road then after a few bleeds got the power back. I hope thats all yours needs too. As you crack them it will run ruff as hell till you tighten them back up. May sound stupid but are all rubber pipes on well and injectors done up tight? I also had probs when I ran it low on fuel blocked all the filter up

[psychonaut]

Hiya Kap - thanks for your input. I've rechecked all the rubber pipes, and they seem okay. I replaced all the return pipework when I replaced the injectors so it was worth double-checking them.

The more I think about it, the more I think it isn't the head gasket - there's no contamination of oil or coolant, and whilst the temp gauge is climbing to three-quarters (as opposed to sitting half way and staying there as it did previously) it isn't going any higher than that. let's hope I was tardy when I bled the injectors and doing them again will solve the problem. Thanks again buddy

[kap]

Forgot to say undo the screw on the top of the filter too, no need to remove fully, do that a few times and tighten up again then work your way through cracking the nuts,white smoke can be unburnt fuel rather than water.Hope you sort it out.

[weldore]

This any good
http://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/diesel-engine-smoke.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[psychonaut]

Thanks Wellie - that chart would seem to suggest poor fuel supply, which would tally with Ewan's suggestion that 1 or 2 of the injectors were air-locked...

[kap]

That charts good,looking on there confirms whats being said nice one welldore.

[kap]

^^ I need a faster phone

[psychonaut]

Okay guys, I've cracked each nut on the injectors in turn, and I've also made sure the pump is primed by undoing the banjo nut on the return pipe - the fuel is literally pishing out when I do that. However, when I pull the return pipe off that banjo and rev the engine, the amount of fuel coming out of it (the return pipe) is minimal - none at idle, and it's kind of "spitting" when I rev the engine. Surely a clear sign that there is still air in the fuel system somewhere? I've cracked the injector nuts several times now, until there is a good amount of fuel spraying out every time, but still I have the rough running, white smoke under load, and engine running hot. I'm confident it isn't the head gasket as the temp gauge rises to 3/4 and stays there.

Help!! I've tried everything suggested, and I'm not sure what I can try next?

[weldore]

wish i could help greg but im not all that clued up on that stuff..if it went wrong with mine id investigate it more but up till now its been fine.

it all seems to stem from you putting in those new glow plugs..were they the exact same ones as you took out ?

[psychonaut]

Thanks Wellie. I'm not sure they are the exact same ones, but I got them from Brickwerks, and they're suitable for all the 1Y engines, so they should be fine....

I think I may need to resort to calling a man in to sort her out lol

[kap]

Just guessing here.is it worth swaping 1 and 2 round for 3 and 4 and see if the injector plugs feel hotter. At least you can then find out if its just them. Maybe too much fuels getting in.