150 cdti valve seals

[bladeage1]

Hi all,

I have got my car running quite well now except for a cloud of smoke on start up in the morning, it clears straight away but there is quite a lot initially when cold.
Question is, can the valve seals be changed without removing the head?
Cheers.

[AntSSSS]

what colour is the smoke? Could just be unburnt diesel.

[bladeage1]

Hi,
smoke is black mostly, maybe a little grey mixed in, it really only does it on the turn of the key then clears 4 seconds later.....engine revs are rough for this time but not horribly

[AntSSSS]

Valve seals will be blue smoke - i.e. oil burning.

Black ish sounds like Diesel to me.

Are you allowing the glow plugs to warm before firing? Could be that the glow plugs are on there last legs.

[bladeage1]

yeah glow plugs were changed a little while ago.........I suppose the smoke is a bit blueish/black, after all the work I have done over the past few weeks I am pretty sure it is valve seals....its done 137,000 miles now so am expecting it.....after start up it runs 100% perfect all day!

[jonnyaykroyd]

Hi all,

I have got my car running quite well now except for a cloud of smoke on start up in the morning, it clears straight away but there is quite a lot initially when cold.
Question is, can the valve seals be changed without removing the head?
Cheers.

there are ways to replace stuff in the head without removing the head itself.

if you have an air compressor you can buy an attachment for your air line that screws into the glow plug socket. You can then pressurize the cylinder which keeps the valves closed allowing you to compress the spring with an overhead type spring compressor, remove the spring and ultimately remove and replace the seals.

Not sure if this can be done on the 150?

I've never had to do this practice. all valve work I've ever done has been with head off.