Intermittent lumpy idle / off white smoke - just about to go on holiday!

[joecuba]

Strange problem today.

Coming back home, running for 2 mins approx, stops at traffic lights and idle is very lumpy. Throttle blip, still there. Drive off, next se everything ok.

Into it this eve to test. Start, no problem, then again 2 mins of idle and lumpy, like a cylinder is not 'firing', and whitish smoke. Engine still runs, revs up ok.

Took it for a drive. Temps ok. After 5 mins stopped at lights, all ok. Onto m/way, floored it, power is fine, no lumpy issues or smoke. Onto B roads, pulls up hill fine, accelerates fine, temps still ok.

Back home, everything ok.

Engine bay looks clean. No fluids anywhere.

I have a holiday coming up on Saturday I need the truck for! Gutted there is a problem, looking for any advice.

I'm thinking:

# Head problem? Not sure, think more would be wrong, esp at startup and after thrashing it?

# Sensor problem? TPS – Throttle Position Sensor?

# Vacuum pipes?

# Dirty fuel filter?

I need to make a call whether the truck is up to a 800 mile round trip. It hasn't stalled on me yet. Gonna try starting it tomorrow, see if the problem returns. If it does, I'll try and find a garage to look at it.

Any help much appreciated!

[Albannach]

Something is wrong somewhere; until you find out what, I wouldn't trust it to go to the shops, nevermind an 800 mile trip.

Is the water level OK?

[joecuba]

Hi there.

Water level fine, looks ok as well.

Oil level looked low, but then high once engine warm?

Just tried it again, same lumpy problem, seems to go once warmed up.

Smoke out back isn't super thick, smells of diesel.

Totally gutted, away in 32 hours, been planing this trip for 6 months :-(

[joecuba]

Found a garage to look at it today hopefully, but not confident it'll be fixed.

Latest prognosis is it could be an injector dribbling instead of spraying.

[charvell]

glow plugs?

[Albannach]

glow plugs?

They wouldn't cause the symptoms described in Post 1.

[joecuba]

Back from garage.

They said wiring fault at glow plugs + glow plugs need replaced.

Not 100% convinced myself, but does run ok when warm. Going to get the surf a good looking over when I get back from my holiday, whatever happens.

Touch and go if I am going to use it for the holiday, or hire a car instead. May see how things are tomorrow morning.

[Albannach]

Glow plugs will cause lumpy running from cold, they won't cause the problems you are getting when the truck is warm.

[joecuba]

Yeh I appreciate that. I think the first time it happened though, I pulled away right after starting, so the revs were up. The truck has been getting slowly worse starting over the years, obviously the glow plugs are needing seen to. Whether that's the root cause here, I dunno. The injectors are due a look at as well, so maybe it's a combination?

Just back from driving round town, refuel etc, and no problems at all, stopped and started three times.

Acid test will come tomorrow morning. Garage said to preheat twice, waiting for click every time, before trying to start, so I am going to follow that and see how well she runs. Going to make sure I try to get away before the car hire shop closes, worst comes to the worst, I'll jump ship and get a hire car... at least I'm prepared for making that call now. Have RAC basic so at least will get some help if I have probs when away. Fingers crossed, thin ice, close to the wind etc etc

[joecuba]

Started ok this morning, preheat 10 sec x 3, then turn her over, immediate start, smooth running.

Wish me luck, I'll report when I get back!

[Albannach]

Enjoy your holiday, I'm glad I was wrong and you got it fixed reasonably easily.

[joecuba]

Thanks Albannach, holiday went fine, Surf behaved, albeit with some slow cold starts.

In the garage just now getting glowplugs fitted, will report back...

[joecuba]

Update on this, glowplugs installed, truck starting well and running smoothly.

Strange that the issue seemed to manifest itself a minute after the engine being started, I'm not surprised that Albannach got thrown off the scent, I wouldn't have thought the plugs would show this fault, but there you go...

[BeratE]

Did your truck seem to stutter or miss occasionally in that first 1-2 minutes? I will be interested to hear if it stays fixed.

[joecuba]

Yes, although strangely it was more after about 1 minute, maybe a glowplug was knackered but was working enough to start ok, but not to keep things warm when the engine was cool.