Smokey Exhaust

[DKnight]

My Volvo 2003 is getting rather smokey, it is of the light grey/white variety. I have not noticed any increase in oil consumption. (I've only have the boat since the beginning of the season and have put about 50 Hrs on the engine and the oil level has fallen half way down the indent on the dip-stick). therefore I beleive it to be the injectors. Or could it be something else???

To replace the injectors is it a simple job or do i have to get the Volvo main agent involved? Surely its just, disconnect pipes, unscrew, reconnect & bleed.

ny advice would be greatfully received

DK

 

[dickh]

Try the Volvo Penta Users group website - you should get all the info you need - I believe you have to be careful how you remove the injectors as you can also remove a 'sleeve', whichs means a head off to replace - there is a special tool for injector removal I think. Other posters will be able to confirm this info. Website is www.volpen.org.uk
Another tip, get the injectors rebuilt by a specialist diesel injector shop - there will be one near you, look in Yellow Pages - much cheaper than buying new!


dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[oldharry]

Firstly, it is very easy to confuse grey/white smoke with steam. You need to be sure of this before you start stripping your engine as the causes are very different. Steam is caused either by water entering the hot part of the engine (leaky head gasket, manifolds, etc) or by insufficient cooling in the exhaust. Also simply by cold weather! Some engines produce steam in normal running.

Grey/white smoke looks almost exactly the same, but its causes are very different. It tends to dissipate much more slowly than steam, more noticeable on a warm day. Some smoke is normal on start up, particularly on older engines, and is atomised diesel fuel that has not been burnt by the engine (unlike black smoke when it is has been partially burnt). It is caused by incorrect injector timing, pre heat system fault, or by a fault on the injector pump delivering incorrect amounts of fuel. Also it can be caused by fuel blockages resulting in fuel starvation, and possibly by very low compression on 1 cylinder accompanied by a degree of power loss. It is unlikely to be the injectors, which normally increase the black smoke output as they wear, and the presence of white smoke tends to indicate the injectors themselves are OK.

As suggested, refer to Volvo for more information and guidance.

 

[oldharry]

and.....

It can also be caused by low grade fuel where the cetane rating is below spec causing it not to burn properly. Unlikely in UK, but quite possible overseas.

 

[mldpt]

Re: and.....

I have a 2003 and I have had the same problem last time I had this I changed the screw on fuel filter, it stoped smoking this latest smoke problem left me with a heavy black oily mark on the transom, I have put a new filter on and the black ark has now gone and the smoke has reduced considerably. I have the extractor for the injectors and with this its an easy job to remove them, I am happy to hire this tool out for a tenner just to recoup the cost £50 I have just paid out to volvo for it, Hope the new fuel filter cures the problem, my engine has done 4000 hrs is getting a bit of a problem starting when cold otherwise runs like a dream, this winter I plan to overhaul the head, where I think the problem is possible loosing compression through the valves.
REgards Mike

 

[pvb]

Most of them are smokey...

The 2003 engine is often very smokey. I've got a 2003T with 1700hrs on it, and it smokes appallingly. But the injectors are OK, the compression's OK, it doesn't burn oil or lose water. I've decided to live with the smoke!