injector cleaner.... or not

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Hi, hoping for a little advice from some of the knowledgeable bods on here. I have a Toyota Landcruiser LC4 3.0 diesel auto ( 55 reg - owned for 4 years now. Done 63k miles ). On start up ( even after leaving it for an hour ) there is a large cloud of white smoke from the exhaust ( no volcano jokes please ) which will last for a second or two - then the engine and fumes seem fine! Also, i have noticed that whilst driving along, you can occasionally hear a fast tapping noise coming from the engine - although this is faint, not loud. The car is booked into Toyota the week after next. I asked the service adviser his thoughts - he thinks it sounds like an injector problem, and says if so, it will need replacing. My question is - is it worth trying injector cleaner fluid? or is this stuff a load of cobblers? He also says, he doubts very much that it would be the valve seals or the head gasket ( i know he is not a mechanic, but did sound like he knew what he was on about - certainly more than me ). This is my first Toyota, i needed a reliable car with more than 5 seats for the misses to drive, and had hoped to keep it for a loooong time (the car that is ). Thinking i should of bought the X5 instead

Thanks in advance

[stevieturbo]

probably a bit of steam or condensation. And its a diesel....they are all noisy !!!

And as far as reliability is concerned. No way would I buy a BMW over a Toyota

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Mmmm, not convinced. It never used to do this, and i have never witnessed a vehicle emit a plume of smoke like this before. This is definitely a case of CAR POORLY. Actually, i would go so far as to say - i am embarrassed to start her up! This has been going on now for approx 3-5 months - thought it was just the cold weather ( has been very cold ) but also has now got a lot worse than before in the winter months. Owned the car for 4 years - never had this tapping noise for the first 3 and a half of them

[Busa_Rush]

White smoke would lead me to think you have one or more faulty glow plugs. Does it need more churning on the starter before it starts ? You might want to check the impedance of the glow plugs - all of them should be the same as each other and very low, about one ohm from memory.

Alternatively, has it been using water ?

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Busa_Rush said:

White smoke would lead me to think you have one or more faulty glow plugs. Does it need more churning on the starter before it starts ? You might want to check the impedance of the glow plugs - all of them should be the same as each other and very low, about one ohm from memory.

Alternatively, has it been using water ?

It fires up just fine - but immediately then, for maybe 2 seconds or so, sounds as though the engine is strangled ( forgive my terminology ) - this is when it guffs out a cloud of white/light grey smoke. After the initial cloud of smoke it seems ok. Water - this has not needed topping up during this problem. Dipstick - oil looks clean. Oil filler cap - clean. Fuel 95% of the time i use Shell - the other 5%, Murco. The smoke happens on every start up ( well, after the vehicle has been switched off for maybe a couple of hours ). Cannot explain the smell of the smoke, just that it does not smell like normal exhaust smoke.

Cheers

[Busa_Rush]

It could be an injector which isn't firing properly, maybe dribbling after it's switched off and leaving a quantity of diesel in the cylinder . . . this would have a similar effect to the glow plug not working and not burning the fuel injected.

Personally, I'd take it to a diesel specialist who can test/recon the injectors.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Busa_Rush said:

It could be an injector which isn't firing properly, maybe dribbling after it's switched off and leaving a quantity of diesel in the cylinder . . . this would have a similar effect to the glow plug not working and not burning the fuel injected.

Personally, I'd take it to a diesel specialist who can test/recon the injectors.

Thanks Busa, hope it is just an injector and nothing major. Although, the service advisor did give an approx price of £300 per injector - plus hoses. He said, they do not repair them, only replace for new parts.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Put 2 bottles of Forte diesel formula thingy in the fuel tank. Waiting game now to see if this works

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Little update - car is in the garage today. Toyota are saying it needs 4 new injectors. Have not given the go-ahead to replace these yet as the cost is approx £350 per injector + £70 hoses. This i do not think includes labour - a little shocking for a 4 year old car, bought from Toyota and maintained (FSH) within the Toyota network.

[Busa_Rush]

I'd argue that on such a new, low mileage car, they must have all been faulty when fitted to have expired in such a short time, faulty batch perhaps. (Assuming they are actually faulty) Have they explained how they tested them and diagnosed them all as being faulty ?

Unless the garage are just starting at one end and replacing everything piece by piece until they fix it ?

[Hong Kong Phooey]

No, i have no idea how they have tested these. Although i did speak to a diesel specialist (P.Atkins in Mansfield Notts) and he said that these are probably the Denso injectors and that they are not as reliable as the Bosch items. I am no mechanic but am suspicious that all 4 are shot!

Am hoping that Toyota come good and offer a goodwill - this will keep my confidence in the brand

Thanks Busa

Edited by Hong Kong Phooey on Monday 26th April 22:24

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Update : Toyota are replacing the injectors - no cost to myself. My faith in Toyota fully restored. I think it helps that the car was purchased and maintained within the Toyota network, after all, it IS 18 months out of warranty.

Agreed, the injectors *must* of been faulty to fail at such an early age though.

Hats off to Farmer & Carlisle Toyota (Loughborough) too - always been very pleased and satisfied with their service/advice and would 100% recommend them.

I would and will certainly purchase another vehicle from Toyota again

Thanks for the advice

[Busa_Rush]

Good result !