Thick white smoke on starting the engine

[darkchild101]

When I start the car after its been parked overnight I get a plume of smoke (see video). This smoke quickly disappears and when I switch off and start engine the rest of the day there is no white smoke. However if I accelerate hard there is black smoke. There has been no loss of power, car accelerates fine etc

This happens whether hot or cold day

What could be causing this please. Thanks

http://youtu.be/ksnnThyEEQc

Edited by darkchild101 on Monday 12th January 22:25

[AER]

Is it a diesel?

[andyiley]

Yes, it is a diesel.

(I know this will sound rather woolly, alas I am no diesel expert, someone will be along to help you more)

The "white smoke" is unburnt diesel, so, either the injectors are (for some reason) delivering too much, or it isn't being combusted well enough.

The black smoke is also caused by mis-fuelling issues so they COULD be related.

[Jimmyarm]

Looks like one or more injectors are leaking overnight, this results in lots of diesel in the cylinders when you first start it up and the smoke you see.

Get a diesel specialist to look at it/test the injectors.

[darkchild101]

Thanks guys. So would getting the codes read help with a fuel issue. thining of taking it to Chrysler for diagnostic test

Are there ny simle diy injector tests i can do?

Any more ideas please

[AER]

It could also be a hydraulic lifter pumping up too much, not allowing a valve to seal which causes loss of compression on one cylinder. White smoke on a diesel engine is usually a signal that a cylinder is injecting by not burning.

[darkchild101]

AER said:

It could also be a hydraulic lifter pumping up too much, not allowing a valve to seal which causes loss of compression on one cylinder. White smoke on a diesel engine is usually a signal that a cylinder is injecting by not burning.

Its lookinglike something to o wth injector then

[Jimmyarm]

The problem with modern diesels is that there is little a home mechanic can do when symptoms like these present themselves, unless you want to invest in lots of expensive test kit and then get taught how to use it all

It is likely that there isn't a fault code logged for the issue, particularly if an injector is dribbling slightly overnight etc.

A diesel specialist that knows the system fitted to the car is what you need, ask in your local section if anyone knows one.

[darkchild101]

Jimmyarm said:

The problem with modern diesels is that there is little a home mechanic can do when symptoms like these present themselves, unless you want to invest in lots of expensive test kit and then get taught how to use it all

It is likely that there isn't a fault code logged for the issue, particularly if an injector is dribbling slightly overnight etc.

A diesel specialist that knows the system fitted to the car is what you need, ask in your local section if anyone knows one.

Now that you mention codes, the car reported a camshaft sensor code about 6 months ago. You know Chryslers have that keydance routine you do and the car flashes the error code on the dash. I never got it looked into as the car was fine after stalling. Could that be the cause as smoke issue startd around same time

[AER]

darkchild101 said:

AER said:

It could also be a hydraulic lifter pumping up too much, not allowing a valve to seal which causes loss of compression on one cylinder. White smoke on a diesel engine is usually a signal that a cylinder is injecting by not burning.

Its lookinglike something to o wth injector then

No, not necessarily. My point was that the diesel cycle needs compression to start combustion. If you have leaking inlet or exhaust valves it won't have enough cylinder pressure to ignite. The result is white smoke.

Not everything is diagnosed with a computer. ..

[radical78]

check the timing