White Smoke on startup?

[Chris QTown]

Brilliant !!

I've got a 1990 2.4 L surf, and on startup, especially when its colder out, it will start really rough, as if it is missing on one or more cylinders, and a lot of white smoke comes out. Goes away and runs perfect once it warms up.

The smoke is vaporized diesel, the head gasket is fine (it was replaced in may before I bought it, plus you can actually smell the diesel if you stand in the cloud. I've dealt with diesel heating stoves, its the same gas you get before they blow up in your face lol). I tried searching, and found one very old thread on this but no definitive answer. Is this normal? I wasn't sure if it was altitude or temp related, as I didn't notice it when it was 20*C this summer at sea level, but its happening now at <5*C at 6000' elev.

I have a 1991 2.4l turbo diesel automatic (sucks) now in Australia as opposed to the 89 turbo diesel manual that i had in New Zealand (awesome).

Anyway... the EXACT same symptoms happened to me from the rough start to blowing white smoke, then once it warms up its A-OK - and i just shit bricks thinking i have to get the HGasket done.
I only bought the truck 2 days ago and on the way home i got a puncture thanks to a fat screw left on the road.

Mine is a Jap import too so i will try warming the glow plugs before starting.
I wondered why this version beeps at me like crazy when the accessories are left on for only a minute - maybe thats an indicator that they're ready ? cause my last one didnt have it.

BTW - dont bother with an auto one of these - i mean theyre ok if you think its a REALLY good one - but the manuals shit all over auto's in power for sure.

Chris,
Nelson Bay

[yoshie]

Two small points the post you are replying to is 2yrs old.
Secondly to say a mannual is way better than an auto for an off road truck is nonsense.






I know I said 2 however "power" should never be used as a descriptor for a two ton 2.4ltr truck.

[JD_975]

I'm going to forego the fact that you revived a two year old thread with poo advice on engine and transmission choice to simply say....

My 3.0td auto starts and drives fine, it's pretty handy off road too

[Mark7081]

Mine does start with a big cloud of white smoke the first time I start it but every other start of the day (be it 10 minutes or 3 hours later) is always fine.

Might check the glow plugs if they are to blame, but the butt plugs seem fine

Mine is also an auto, and plenty of power for me (the Surf, not the Butt Plug!)

[Andy Pandy]

Got a 2.4 auto no lack of power for 2 tonne plus truck since a few cheap mods done and off road found no probs with auto!!!

[Mark7081]

AP, prey tell, what are these cheap mods you speak of that will help my 2.4

[Chris QTown]

hrmmm....

well in my manual one it felt strong, once the turbo kicked in the truck would take off like buggery and hold revs+speed until ready to change gear.

this is my first auto one and when i plant my foot the revs go up heaps, then the revs go immediately down and gradually builds up again with the turbo.

is this normal?

the transmission and engine feel strong, the turbo kicks in just under 2000rpm, i cant hear any air leaks and have checked all of the pressure lines.

it doesn't feel really bad, but i know it should be better...

any ideas?

[Chris QTown]

Two small points the post you are replying to is 2yrs old.
Secondly to say a mannual is way better than an auto for an off road truck is nonsense.






I know I said 2 however "power" should never be used as a descriptor for a two ton 2.4ltr truck.

do u have an issue with me replying to a 2yr old post?

this website was made to HELP people, so the more people posting with the same issue the easier the answers will be to find.

and yes, the original post was spot on - and has just saved me taking apart my engine to fix something that doesn't need fixing.

[muddle]

do u have an issue with me replying to a 2yr old post?

this website was made to HELP people, so the more people posting with the same issue the easier the answers will be to find.

and yes, the original post was spot on - and has just saved me taking apart my engine to fix something that doesn't need fixing.

OOOOOO angry member..

also i would say you have a torque converter issue, should lock up and pull pretty much straight away.

torque converters give similar issues to slipping clutches.

[Chris QTown]

cheers muddle ill look into it on the weekend

i found a post on how to block up some pipe that transfers the emissions back into the truck.
apparently this was built for better emission control but as the years went on owners have found it takes away a lot of power

am i allowed to say 'power' when referring to a 2.4 now ???

[davec170]

cheers muddle ill look into it on the weekend

i found a post on how to block up some pipe that transfers the emissions back into the truck.
apparently this was built for better emission control but as the years went on owners have found it takes away a lot of power

am i allowed to say 'power' when referring to a 2.4 now ???

No.

[davec170]

DP

Unless it's prefixed by "lack of..."

If so, carry on.

[yoshie]

do u have an issue with me replying to a 2yr old post?

this website was made to HELP people, so the more people posting with the same issue the easier the answers will be to find.

and yes, the original post was spot on - and has just saved me taking apart my engine to fix something that doesn't need fixing.

Try Here

[Apache]

I always thought a torque converter actually was effectively a slipping clutch, matching engine torque to demand. Therefore there is always some slip, until you reach lock up, which on a Surf only happens in top gear. It certainly doesn't 'lock up immediately'.

Excessive 'slip' probably indicates knackered fluid.

[BUSHWHACKER]

I always thought a torque converter actually was effectively a slipping clutch, matching engine torque to demand. Therefore there is always some slip, until you reach lock up, which on a Surf only happens in top gear. It certainly doesn't 'lock up immediately'.

Excessive 'slip' probably indicates knackered fluid.

Zackly!