406 1.9td hard to start + white smoke + using engine cleaner

[JonnyFoxtrot]

Hi all,

After my E46 3 Series went up in flames before December, the other halfs parents kindly gifted us an old but running 1998 406 Estate 1.9td with nearly 140k on the clock.

Its never been the most amazing car but we arent proud people and as long as it runs and serves our needs we're happy which it has done for the last few months.

But the last couple of weeks its been getting harder and harder to start and has started producing lots of white smoke when it does start. A quick google mentions that white smoke on a diesel usually means unburnt fuel, and could be a number of reasons e.g low compresson, ignition timing, knackered glow plugs, crudded up injectors, air filter dirty etc.

I've replaced the air filter and fuel filter and I'm due to do an oil and filter change towards the end of the week.

I'm also going to try and get some diesel engine/injector/fuel cleaner and give it a blast with that and also use some oil cleaner just before the oil change to get rid of some of the crud in both.

Two things really:

Anyone with experience with either diesels/car mechanics or the 406 1.9td in general able to offer any advice on what could be the problem?

Anyone have an opinion on using enginer and oil cleaner additives? I've some loads of success stories and loads of horror stories, and out of the ones I can get in Halfords, 'Millers' seems to be the make that keeps getting recommended. Think it will help at all with any of the issues?

I'd like to get it all sorted before the end of the week really as I'm due to take it down to the south of France with the missus and the dog so I really don't want it conking out while we're there.

Cheers in advance!
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'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[Aff]

I had this issue on my Audi (2.5 Diesel). Was taking longer and longer to turn over, and was producing a cloud of white smoke on start up.

Changing the glow plugs helped a bit, but didn't solve the problem.

Finally tracked it down to knackered Diesel Leak Off pipes. They were sweating and allowing air into the system which meant that when left standing the injectors lost all of their pressure, so on start up I was having to crank until the pressures were up to a suitable level, dumping unburnt fuel and making a smoke cloud.

If it is this, it's an easy and cheap fix, can be bought from euro car parts for about £5 a meter I believe.
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[JonnyFoxtrot]

[Aff]

[JonnyFoxtrot]

[Nb]

Normal cause is unburnt fuel because of glow plugs not working properly, pull them out and test them on the battery.
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Cbr1100xx blackbird gone, mk4 golf gt tdi chav now
Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
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[DERV]

Does it misfire for a few seconds once started (and smoking)

If so, it'll be the fuel return hoses from the injectors and possibly the fuel supply lines from the filter to the pump.

To prove this, with the car cold, open the bonnet and prime the diesel pump using the plunger, then try starting it - priming it should improve the cold start.

I wouldn't worry about the mileage, I had an ex-taxi 406 with 268k on it and it just kept going.
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RXS100's, TS125R, R100, SS50 and a Monkey bike.

[nickyboy4]

[Cunnington]

My old 305 was drawing air at the fuel filter, which was apparently another common source. Symptoms sound very similar and replacing the fuel line worked wonders. Again, the tell tale was the outer casing of the hose was damp.
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'82 C50, '81 CB100, '84 GS125, '95 NTV650, '00 Bandit 600, '06 SV650, '56 Z1000, '89 NTV600
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[chrisw]

I wouldn't waste your time or money on any of the 'cleaning' products, they are unlikely to solve this one (I've never seen them solve anything, ever other than making wallets lighter).