Club 80-90 Forums

O K men, what do you think ? 1.7diesel only smokes light blue/grey but a hell of a lot of it on start up and clears after about 20 secs. I am thinking valve stem seals (advice from good man on here) Is there a lot of oil sitting in the rocker box waiting for me to turn the key and start. Is there a drain back into the sump that could be blocked ? Pulling me hair out now and I aint got much anyway. Thanks all.
OOOOWWW dear, just read the WIKI bit like reading a medical book as I think my engine is a hypocondriac and has all the symptoms.
Glow plugs and chokey thing are both working OK and no bubbles in coolant. Previously had a blocked breather off rocker box which caused her to smoke "on the move" but now only on start ? ? ?

I had the same with Horace. In the end I just thought 'Bugger it'. The drain back to the sump on the 1.7 is not too bad, unlike the early 1600s that were useless and could fill the cam box on a cold day, leaving the sump level really low.
Best bet is to sniff it and find out whether it is diesel, engine oil , or just vapour.

PS I changed the stem seals on Horace and it made no diff.

Thanks Laurie, there has been more happenings today. I think the cloud on startup is actually steam as the water level is dropping and I have never had to top up res before. On start a short time ago on turning the key it gave the effect of a flat battery (partial hydraulic lock me thinks) on the third attempt away she went with a cloud that I went and sniffed, steam methinks !!! Oh dear, next..... gasious bubbles into top up tank AND THEN low water alarm. WHAT SHALL POOR PETER DO NOW ?
Before the steam episode she used oil......thought stem seals, but not sure now after your comment
Water loss and steam........Head gasket or cracked head as I have noted on these forums folks say this is quite common for heads to crack.?
My thoughts are
1, head off ang get it pressure tested
2, New rings ? (If bores and pistons and ends OK leave as are)
3, Seek new head or overhaul existing if not cracked

Me again, was just thinking, that after a bit of effort she starts and runs OK until next start. Methinks when she stops the water system is still pressurised and is forcing water into somewhere that water should not go and therefor gives me the idea that it is headgasket (wishfull thinking) but what do you think. Come on men if you all push hard enough we can get her going