I have just reacently bought a masterace 2.0td 1988 and very happy I was, until the engine warmed up and smoke came bellowing out the back while at lights. I realise it's probably knackered and I need and new engine, can anyone help if the problem ends up being terminal anyone suggest where to source an engine and pref get it fitted too, All help appreciated

- (#179) Scott Taylor, 15 Mar 05 13:22

Unlikely to be engine. Check the breather hose on top of the engine for blockages, and if that's OK suspect the turbo...

- (#179) david miller, 15 Mar 05 14:02

I recently had a similar problem with lots of blue smoke as soon as I stopped.changed the turbo and problem cured.Secondhand turbo from nippon spares for £120 inc delivery

- (#179) Dafydd Rees, 15 Mar 05 14:54

You don't say what colour smoke. Blue is pretty serious, black is usually more easily curable.

- (#179) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 16 Mar 05 01:47

But it's rare to get black smoke at idle yet not in normal driving. Black smoke means excess diesel or poor combustion, and as idle speed is controlled by fuel quantity the only reason for it could be a duff injector- which would make the engine run rough as a badger's and produce a James Bond style black smokescreen in normal driving...

- (#179) david miller, 16 Mar 05 02:06

But Scott failed to say whether he noticed the smoke while idling at the lights or when pulling away. If he is new to diesels as well as his Masterace, best not to put the frighteners on him too early by making expensive dianoses. It could be something simple like incorrect pump settings.

I think we need more information before jumping to conclusions ie. what colour smoke? Does it do it at idle, accelerating or both? Any other symptoms like strange noises, heavy fuel consumption?

- (#179) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 16 Mar 05 02:30

Aaah umm ok it says idle in the subject heading, but more info would be useful.

- (#179) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 16 Mar 05 02:32

true.

- (#179) david miller, 16 Mar 05 04:08

Thanks for all the help, It seems to develop while the car sits still, Then even more comes out as I pull away, then once going it stops. The smoke is thick and white. thanks again

- (#179) scott Taylor, 16 Mar 05 05:05

White smoke - insufficient fuel/injector pump, dodgy injector(s), low compression, incorrect timing.

If running ok then assume timing is ok. I'd first check that fuel delivery is ok then investigate the fuel injection system.

- (#179) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 16 Mar 05 07:10

I took the poor beast to a couple more garages and one said it could be the fuel injector pump but couldn't be sure. The secound said it was the Turbo as he said it was oil burning off not fuel and all this other stuff. New turbo fitted £800. I live in Devon. He also said it might not be that but he said it should cure it but won't garauntee a fix. Any ideas

- (#179) scott Taylor, 16 Mar 05 10:44

Would be best to take it to a proper diesel engineer first so they can test the pump and such, from past experience when the turbo went on my old shogun i had blue smoke coming out the exhurst most of the time, alot more on acceleration..... so don't think it would be the turbo....

- (#179) neil (torbay), 16 Mar 05 10:54

Engine oil can indeed burn with a bluish-white tinge.

Turbos are strange things. The seals inside them only work properly when there's boost pressure. At idle there's no boost, so any oil that gets past the flingers on the shaft will likely make it's way through the seals. The seals on a CT12/9/20 turbo look remarkably like a piston ring. They are a close fit in a groove in the shaft and are compressed (like a piston ring) to fit into the bore of the housing.

New seals have *very* little play in them, but as they wear you'd see perhaps .3mm clearance. Plenty for oil to get through.

No boost, seals do not press into contact with the shaft. Likewise if crankcase pressure is high- caused by blowby or a blocked breather, the oil is actually blown through the seals by pressure differential...

- (#179) david miller, 16 Mar 05 11:29

I totally agree but all the places around torbay seem to want to shun my poorly masterace and i've been shoved from pillar to post and don't really have anymore options.

- (#179) Scott Taylor, 16 Mar 05 11:29

Try the guys on winner st paignton ask for mike yates...he is very gend up on diesels...

- (#179) neil (torbay), 16 Mar 05 12:25

Scott you have email....

- (#179) neil (torbay), 16 Mar 05 12:45

Scott

been reading with interest, did you get to the bottom of the problem,about 5 yrs back I had white smoke pouring out and renewed turbo and still had white smoke and took off head and found crack in top of cylinder

- (#179) dennis, 24 Mar 05 11:30

Thank you everyone for your help, especially neil. It eventually came to getting a new engine which has worked out cheaper than getting the turbo replaced should be fitted over the next few days hopefully I'll get to enjoy this fantastic vehicle finally.

- (#179) Scott Taylor, 28 Mar 05 07:12

hi guy's i too am having trouble with smoke but it's black .. just brought an imported townace coz i missed my spacecruser ...manaufactured in 1991 japan , imported uk 1999 j reg its done approx 139,000 km super extra deisel turbo townace 2wd auto , garage says it's just had service , but !! people leave me room when i pull away because it blows out black smoke and when i use the kick down , if i have the turbo cooler on its even worse some times even under normal driving , this is when its warmed up. idle i dont get nothing purrs nicley ...
does any one have any idears please , they are taking it back into garage to have a look whatever that means
thanks guys & gals


- (#179) adrian , 12 Apr 05 08:31

You should have started a new thread. This one's pretty lengthy as it is.

It's likely that someone has dicked with the fuel pump to give a bit better acceleration but at the expense of economy and emmissions. If your garage has the gear and expertise they should pick this up.

- (#179) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 13 Apr 05 02:07

hi ian , yep should have done but a bit brain dead at moment ,thank's for info i shall pass this on to garage to have a look at pump settings , i do hope that they are geard up for this . they should be even though they dont like advice given to them do they , if it's not that any other idears ?? plez
- (#179) adrian , 13 Apr 05 04:49

Umm, what do you mean by "turbo cooler"? If it's a shutoff timer, it's absolutely nothing to do with the engine.
As Ian says somebody's likely been at the pump, but it's also conceivable that the timing is wrong (did it have a cambelt change?) or that the injectors are in need of refurbishment.

- (#179) David Miller, 13 Apr 05 05:04

hi guy's just an update did take it to the garage, they said that the injectors were a bit cloged up and sooty , so they have given me some deisel treatment to put in enough for three tank full's this is supposed to clean injectors , pump ect lets see how it goes ......thanks for the help and advice, and yes it did have cambelt change before i got it, how offten do i need to change it ??? thanks again aid .

- (#179) adrian , 17 Apr 05 04:50

Hi i'v just come back on the site after 2yrs of trying to get my bl.... van sorted.I have a townace 1989 van it needed head gaskets changing so they said (garage) so after they did this they found other things and as there was no other diesil specialist where i live and these guys were recommended i let them get on with it after a huge bill of 1000 it has now been sitting on my drive for the past 12months or more.When i tried to drive it, it blows out black smoke my engine is blowing instead of sucking -no rude comments please p...off as it. drives great then my revs drop to zero then the engine sounds very distressed then i get black smoke.took it garage up tunstall that people who have townaces recommened (different garage) he said it was gears but could not do it told me to take it to a diesiel specialist PLEASE HELP GUYS DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT YET WILL TRY ANYTHING. I'm sorry if this gets posted wrong

- (#179) Jane, 17 Apr 05 08:48