Very smokey on start-up?

[cont1204]

Morning, just.

My 2.2 DTi is appearing very smokey on startup. Is this normal? I know it's normally just condensation but there's a real black tint to the smoke out the back when its cold and just started ticking over on the drive. Is this normal? I'll try and get a video if it's bad today. The car has had the cat removed.

Cheers.

[Bigtee]

You may have a leaking injector or burning some oil, What colour on start up & does it start first time ok or sluggish?

[shadylee]

mine is abit smokey since the cold has come,chances are its just the unburnt fuel that is still remaining from having to crank the motor a few more times because the diesel has gone abit sloppy.

wait until warmer climate then recheck lol

[cont1204]

It starts first time with a bit of a cough and splutter but never fails. It's normally fine, was wondering if it was some kind of choke to warm it up? Putting more diesel in to build up the heat?

[Lao]

What color is the smoke?

[m8internet]

Given the smoke is a dark colour, the glow plugs may be struggling to fully detonate the diesel
I suggest you try this and compare
Turn the ignition in and wait for the glow plug light to go out
Switch the ignition back off then return it to on again so that the glow plug light shows again, but it should be very brief
Now start the engine
Allow the engine to idle for about 30 seconds before applying any revs

What is the outside temperature?
If the problem persists, inspect the glow plugs, ideally the one nearest the relay
If it is indeed at the end of its life, then replace all four

[cont1204]

What color is the smoke?

The smoke is a light black colour, not blue like oil smoke.

Given the smoke is a dark colour, the glow plugs may be struggling to fully detonate the diesel
I suggest you try this and compare
Turn the ignition in and wait for the glow plug light to go out
Switch the ignition back off then return it to on again so that the glow plug light shows again, but it should be very brief
Now start the engine
Allow the engine to idle for about 30 seconds before applying any revs

What is the outside temperature?
If the problem persists, inspect the glow plugs, ideally the one nearest the relay
If it is indeed at the end of its life, then replace all four

Ok next time it's cold enough I'll give the glowplugs a few cycles. I suspect it probably is them on the way out. The smoke stays though. It's not just a puff of black when it starts up, it'll be throwing out the grey/black smoke for a good few minutes.

Cheers dude.

[m8internet]

Sounds like the diesel is not fully detonating, resulting in unburnt diesel being expelled from the system
It could be anything from the engine block, EGR valve, injectors, fuel pump, etc

Given it only lasts a few minutes it sounds like it might be worth comparing once the air temperature rises again, as you didn't advise what the temperature typically is when this occurs

However, it is more likely to get more steam than smoke
Equally, this could be the first signs of a part on its way out...
Quite common as parts have to deal with higher extremes at the moment; cracked cylinder heads are an issue at the moment as they freeze with water in the them!

[cont1204]

Sorry about that, forgot to say. Normally happens when it's below -5. At freezing it's fine and just condensation. Not sure if the de-cat will be having an effect on it.

[Celes]

De-cat won't have an affect. My old Vec B was de-catted, had more than 175k miles and didn't smoke like that. Try to get it on video mate