Club 80-90 Forums

A funny thing happened on the way to Wickes the other day. My 1600TD JX was running sweetly as I approached a dual carriageway but at around 45 mph began pump out large volumes of light grey smoke. I could barely see an HGV which I had just overtaken in the mirror - he was impressed! After about a mile the smoke cleared and the engine ran normally.

On the way to Wickes again today on the same stretch of road the JX treated me to clouds of smelly oily smoke which again cleared after about a mile. The engine then ran sweetly and smoke free.

The engine has covered around 30k and the injection pump and turbo were overhauled by Watsons of Wimbledon when the engine was fitted. It starts on the button once the glow plugs are warm and pulls strongly. There is a slight coolant leak (toppimg up about every 150 miles) which might be connected.

Anyone got any ideas - or should I just go to B%Q in future?

Don't know if its relevant but back when I had a Reliant Scimitar I had a brake servo problem where brake fluid leaked into the vacuum side and every so often was sucked into the engine = thick white smoke which quickly cleared until the next time.

I'll start you off - grey smoke is a diesel problem usually. As to the cause, maybe a blockage/sticking of an injector of some kind. When was the fuel filter last changed and have you checked/drained the water from it regularly? Do you have any trace of a diesel leak on the pump anywhere?
Then wait for further posts.

Thanks for the tips folks