HDJ81V developing blue smoke

RDHcruiser · 03-08-08, 05:47 PM

Hello All,

I searched around but could not get a definite answer. I picked up my HDJ81V 4.2L turbodiesel in BC last weekend. The truck ran great and I drove it back home to Edmonton.

I ran a can of fuel injector cleaner during my 1,000KM and she was great.

Well, I noticed that the truck is leaking a little bit of fuel out of the injector pump, (its not that much, it stops after the car warms up). And then lately I have been noticing light blue smoke under idle. Especially, if I was stuck at light for a while, it becomes more prominent.

Also, there is a bit of white smoke at start up.

Other than that, the truck runs great, starts really well and the engine sounds healthy. I just replaced the oil and filter as well as the air filter but the blue smoke is bothering me. Its been happening for about 4 days now.

Anybody have any clues what it is?

jinzuke · 03-08-08, 07:12 PM

Their a few thing you need to do to get more info on the subject. what kind of fuel milage are you getting?
Is your motor burning oil do you burn more then 1 liter per 5000kms.
How many kms are on the clock.

canucksafari · 03-08-08, 08:44 PM

If you bought it from a dealer you may have some recourse. But your time is limited. A leaking fuel pump is an issue which would void a sale. Did you buy it from a dealer and if so which one? If so, have you contacted them with your concerns? If you didn't get it from a dealer you are on your way to fixing the pump. Mine started leaking like yours for about a week until it let go.

As Jinzuke says we need a bit more info to help and confuse (just kidding) you with suggestions. A fuel injection shop may push you to rebuild the pump which is a bit of money. Also, not every fuel injection shop can do a good job on our JDM diesels. If your kms are low then go for just seals. If your kms are high, say over 200, 000, you might consider a rebuild. As for your smoke, I have said it before and I'll say it again, get someone to start it up and you get your nose into the exhaust. What for one person is blue for another person is white. Smell is a better test. If it smells like burning oil - not diesel - than you got a problem. If it is only at start-up and prolonged idle, then it is probably valve stem seals. Piston oil rings use up oil on acceleration. Again you can check this out following closely in another car while someone else drives your rig. If it smells like unburnt diesel, then it is back to your fuel system: injectors, injector pump, plugged filter, air leak. Start with the cheap and easy and progress to the difficult and expensive.

roscoFJ73 · 03-09-08, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDHcruiser

Anybody have any clues what it is?

How many klms?

Sounds like valve stem seals.

83bj60 · 03-09-08, 01:37 AM

I've been thinking about this for a while now, since I also have a wee bit of blue upon starting from a stop and otherwise hardly use any oil at all (the high consumption I had last year may have been a fluke) - How does one correct the valve stem seal leakage problem? I looked at a schematic the other day and couldn't see any seals on those valve stems...

roscoFJ73 · 03-09-08, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83bj60

I've been thinking about this for a while now, since I also have a wee bit of blue upon starting from a stop and otherwise hardly use any oil at all (the high consumption I had last year may have been a fluke) - How does one correct the valve stem seal leakage problem? I looked at a schematic the other day and couldn't see any seals on those valve stems...

Its on page EM54 of the FSM.

jinzuke · 03-09-08, 10:01 AM

The valve seals are their I replaced mine when I did the head gasket.

lynchmob · 03-09-08, 02:53 PM

Is it possibly an issue with the turbo leaking oil into the intake?

fjbj40 · 03-09-08, 03:29 PM

If your fuel leak stops when the engine warms up check to see if everything is tight in that area. Take a wrench and tighten allyour bolts/nuts in that area...don't over-torque!
As for the blue smoke...pull off the induction tube that goes from the turbo to your throttle body...is it full of oil? If so, you need to re-build your turbo. If that is the case make sure you replace the oil feed and drain lines to the turbo...the drain line is large so just a thouough cleaning will probably do, but you must repace the feed line. A little puff of smoke on start-up and light smoke at idle is a good sign of leaking turbo seals OR valve seals. What kind of km on the engine? What was the oil like that you drained out?

HTH'S , Daryl

Jimmy B · 03-09-08, 08:18 PM

Just curious what oil brand you are using.Check all the fuel lines(rubber ones) running to and from the pump,the lines use small spring clamps that after time lose some tension or the hoses become hard and they do not compress well,sometimes they can be moved forward or back a few mm's and this may stop the leak.Had this when I first got my truck,replaced all the hoses and clamps and cleared up.

T.Stanford · 03-10-08, 08:31 AM

White smoke upon start up in Edmonton at this time of year is probably of no concern (condensation in your exhaust system), fuel leakage requires immediate attention and the blue smoke issue... well that could be a number of things including a bit of "buyers paranoia" on your part. My 81 when on the coast puts out a puff of dark smoke on start up and even when it's warm you can see a "haze" at idle, so I guess with your description it's difficult to know the magnitude of the smoke. The turbos on JDMs are often in need of a rebuild upon arrival and the injection timing is sometimes out of whack. Good luck, Tony

canucksafari · 03-10-08, 09:45 AM

Can't be very urgent. The owner of the thread has never checked back in the last two days. LOL

83bj60 · 03-10-08, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

Its on page EM54 of the FSM.

Thanks a million! I'll look into it...

I wonder if that job can be done with valves held in place with compressed air through the glowplug hole... (I'd rather not remove the head like it's been suggested)

Gotta go for now...

landcrusher80 · 03-10-08, 01:15 PM

The truck probably sat for a long time. Go through a couple of tanks of diesel. Change your fuel filter, air filter oil filter and oil.
You should be getting around 6 - 8 Km/l.

Landcrusher80

gbcruiser · 03-10-08, 03:49 PM

Another post not boding well for JDMs...

roscoFJ73 · 03-10-08, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83bj60

Thanks a million! I'll look into it...

I wonder if that job can be done with valves held in place with compressed air through the glowplug hole... (I'd rather not remove the head like it's been suggested)

Gotta go for now...

I was wondering that too ,but with the OHC in the way,I dunno.......

1HZ below

canucksafari · 03-10-08, 04:05 PM

Now that's gonna get Brown Bear drooling. LOL

roscoFJ73 · 03-10-08, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucksafari

Now that's gonna get Brown Bear drooling. LOL

Its done 22000klm since the rebuild and it is fast for a 1HZ

. Its never used a drop of oil or coolant since the day I 1st started it up.
The reason Ive never bother with turbo/supercharging is that its fine as it is. It had a full and costly pump rebuild as well. That really faWked the budget

Thinking I may swap it into the 75 and sell the 73.

I think this is the valve guide bushing with the seal above it .

Jimmy B · 03-10-08, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83bj60

Thanks a million! I'll look into it...

I wonder if that job can be done with valves held in place with compressed air through the glowplug hole... (I'd rather not remove the head like it's been suggested)

Gotta go for now...

Can be done with the head on and compressed air,unfortunatly not a quick job, you will have to remove the cam,lifter and springs to get to the seals,make sure the piston is at TDC in case you lose air so the valve does not drop into the cylinder.

83bj60 · 03-10-08, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbcruiser

Another post not boding well for JDMs...

Huh?!

RDHcruiser · 03-10-08, 09:43 PM

Sorry for the late reply, don't worry I did not forget. Today I was driving the cruiser and it smoked a little until it warmed up, after it seemed fine.

The truck has 150,000 Km's on it. It ran great in BC running the low sulfur diesel. could it be the crappy diesel in edmonton? I filled up at Shell near yellowhead and 170st.

The car is running Quakerstate 15w40 oil right now, i changed the filter as well. The oil looked black of course, but still felt like oil, not oil and diesel together.

Where do you guys get your diesel.

As far the injection pump leak, i'm replacing the o-ring as soon as 4wheel auto gets it in along with the fuel filter.

canucksafari · 03-11-08, 01:09 AM

If smoke is only on start-up of a cold engine, then it is probably glow related. Check to see if all your glow plugs are working. If it is on start-up even when the engine is still warm, then I would say it is valve guide seals.

Tapage · 03-11-08, 04:22 PM

white smoke only on cold starts shoul be IP timing ( advanced ) related item ..

Diesel_Boy · 05-05-08, 09:19 PM

Yes yes, its an old thread, but thought i would post incase it gives someone piece of mind........

Notice a common theme????

The Grey cruiser has 300,000+k's on the clock and the maroon cruiser has done 120,000k's.

Thats running slowly in low range. They all do it regardless of age and condition. Its injection related.

Mine is the Maroon cruiser, and it is currently in the shop getting the injectors overhauled. I am getting them set to a higher burst pressure and having the pump timing advanced. That should complement the adjustments i am going to make to off boost fuel compensator. (adjustments that get the turbo boosting at 1000rpm rather than the factory spec 2500rpm

)

I have a tech article on how to make the adjustments if anyone is interested, where do i post it??

Tapage · 05-06-08, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel_Boy

I have a tech article on how to make the adjustments if anyone is interested, where do i post it??

Open a new thread in the diesel section and let us know ..

On a side note .. the factory 1HD-T settings, place your turbo CT26 running at full boost @ 2000 rpm ..

canucksafari · 05-06-08, 09:47 AM

I have said over and over, if you are unsure if the smoke is fuel or engine oil, take a good smell of your tail pipe. If it smells like burnt motor oil (blue), it could be your turbo, valve guide seals or your oil rings. If it smells like diesel (black or white), then usually it is your fuel filter, air filter, injectors or injector pump. Also, make sure your valves are properly adjusted - something I need to do soon myself.

roscoFJ73 · 05-06-08, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel_Boy

Yes yes, its an old thread, but thought i would post incase it gives someone piece of mind........

Notice a common theme????

The Grey cruiser has 300,000+k's on the clock and the maroon cruiser has done 120,000k's.

Thats running slowly in low range. They all do it regardless of age and condition. Its injection related.

Doesnt tally with my observations. Every text book I have seen says oil burn as blue smoke and injection problems as black smoke.

Low range ,high rpms with little load on the engine as in th

03-08-08, 05:47 PM	#1
RDHcruiser IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	HDJ81V developing blue smoke Hello All, I searched around but could not get a definite answer. I picked up my HDJ81V 4.2L turbodiesel in BC last weekend. The truck ran great and I drove it back home to Edmonton. I ran a can of fuel injector cleaner during my 1,000KM and she was great. Well, I noticed that the truck is leaking a little bit of fuel out of the injector pump, (its not that much, it stops after the car warms up). And then lately I have been noticing light blue smoke under idle. Especially, if I was stuck at light for a while, it becomes more prominent. Also, there is a bit of white smoke at start up. Other than that, the truck runs great, starts really well and the engine sounds healthy. I just replaced the oil and filter as well as the air filter but the blue smoke is bothering me. Its been happening for about 4 days now. Anybody have any clues what it is?

03-08-08, 07:12 PM	#2
jinzuke IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sidney BC Posts: 190	hdj81 Their a few thing you need to do to get more info on the subject. what kind of fuel milage are you getting? Is your motor burning oil do you burn more then 1 liter per 5000kms. How many kms are on the clock. __________________ :shotts:

03-08-08, 08:44 PM	#3
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 1,993	If you bought it from a dealer you may have some recourse. But your time is limited. A leaking fuel pump is an issue which would void a sale. Did you buy it from a dealer and if so which one? If so, have you contacted them with your concerns? If you didn't get it from a dealer you are on your way to fixing the pump. Mine started leaking like yours for about a week until it let go. As Jinzuke says we need a bit more info to help and confuse (just kidding) you with suggestions. A fuel injection shop may push you to rebuild the pump which is a bit of money. Also, not every fuel injection shop can do a good job on our JDM diesels. If your kms are low then go for just seals. If your kms are high, say over 200, 000, you might consider a rebuild. As for your smoke, I have said it before and I'll say it again, get someone to start it up and you get your nose into the exhaust. What for one person is blue for another person is white. Smell is a better test. If it smells like burning oil - not diesel - than you got a problem. If it is only at start-up and prolonged idle, then it is probably valve stem seals. Piston oil rings use up oil on acceleration. Again you can check this out following closely in another car while someone else drives your rig. If it smells like unburnt diesel, then it is back to your fuel system: injectors, injector pump, plugged filter, air leak. Start with the cheap and easy and progress to the difficult and expensive. __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

03-09-08, 01:37 AM	#5
83bj60 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Laurentians North of Montreal, QC Posts: 1,300	I've been thinking about this for a while now, since I also have a wee bit of blue upon starting from a stop and otherwise hardly use any oil at all (the high consumption I had last year may have been a fluke) - How does one correct the valve stem seal leakage problem? I looked at a schematic the other day and couldn't see any seals on those valve stems... __________________ 91HDJ81VX (The Beast), 4B JDM, since Nov 06 83BJ60 (The Old Faithful), Still Running, Gone to a New Home 83BJ60 (Rusty but Trusty), Dec 90 - July 98, Parted Out 76FJ40 (Big Red), April 87 - July 93

03-09-08, 10:01 AM	#7
jinzuke IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sidney BC Posts: 190	The valve seals are their I replaced mine when I did the head gasket. __________________ :shotts:

03-09-08, 02:53 PM	#8
lynchmob Diesel Trucker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland OR - USA Posts: 893	Is it possibly an issue with the turbo leaking oil into the intake?

03-09-08, 03:29 PM	#9
fjbj40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: east coast Canada Posts: 354	If your fuel leak stops when the engine warms up check to see if everything is tight in that area. Take a wrench and tighten allyour bolts/nuts in that area...don't over-torque! As for the blue smoke...pull off the induction tube that goes from the turbo to your throttle body...is it full of oil? If so, you need to re-build your turbo. If that is the case make sure you replace the oil feed and drain lines to the turbo...the drain line is large so just a thouough cleaning will probably do, but you must repace the feed line. A little puff of smoke on start-up and light smoke at idle is a good sign of leaking turbo seals OR valve seals. What kind of km on the engine? What was the oil like that you drained out? HTH'S , Daryl __________________ 74 fj/bj40 88 fj/bj62 , full OME lift kit , home brew turbo , 4 runner brakes .

03-09-08, 08:18 PM	#10
Jimmy B IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Richmond B.C. TLCA# 16841 Posts: 93	Just curious what oil brand you are using.Check all the fuel lines(rubber ones) running to and from the pump,the lines use small spring clamps that after time lose some tension or the hoses become hard and they do not compress well,sometimes they can be moved forward or back a few mm's and this may stop the leak.Had this when I first got my truck,replaced all the hoses and clamps and cleared up. __________________ 91 HZJ73 warn electric winch,electric lockers,suspension seats

03-10-08, 08:31 AM	#11
T.Stanford IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Galiano,BC Posts: 87	White smoke upon start up in Edmonton at this time of year is probably of no concern (condensation in your exhaust system), fuel leakage requires immediate attention and the blue smoke issue... well that could be a number of things including a bit of "buyers paranoia" on your part. My 81 when on the coast puts out a puff of dark smoke on start up and even when it's warm you can see a "haze" at idle, so I guess with your description it's difficult to know the magnitude of the smoke. The turbos on JDMs are often in need of a rebuild upon arrival and the injection timing is sometimes out of whack. Good luck, Tony __________________ 90 HDJ81VX LTD, lockers, winch ...everthing stock, 85 BJ60 stock

03-10-08, 09:45 AM	#12
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 1,993	Can't be very urgent. The owner of the thread has never checked back in the last two days. LOL __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

03-10-08, 01:15 PM	#14
landcrusher80 IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Okinawa Japan Posts: 207	The truck probably sat for a long time. Go through a couple of tanks of diesel. Change your fuel filter, air filter oil filter and oil. You should be getting around 6 - 8 Km/l. Landcrusher80 __________________ 2003 Gary Fisher Sugar 4+ 2003 Yamaha WR250F 1988 BJ74V Locked 13BT SOA 1991 HDJ81 Factory Locked 1HD-T sold 1992 HDJ81 1HD-T sold 1994 HDJ81 Factory Locked 1HD-T rolled parts for sale 1994 HDJ81V Factory Locked 1HD-T VX Limited Diesel Turbo

03-10-08, 03:49 PM	#15
gbcruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 282	Another post not boding well for JDMs... __________________ http://www.4wdtraveller.com/ 4x4 travel, adventure, news, and reviews.

03-10-08, 04:05 PM	#17
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 1,993	Now that's gonna get Brown Bear drooling. LOL __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

03-10-08, 09:43 PM	#21
RDHcruiser IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Sorry for the late reply, don't worry I did not forget. Today I was driving the cruiser and it smoked a little until it warmed up, after it seemed fine. The truck has 150,000 Km's on it. It ran great in BC running the low sulfur diesel. could it be the crappy diesel in edmonton? I filled up at Shell near yellowhead and 170st. The car is running Quakerstate 15w40 oil right now, i changed the filter as well. The oil looked black of course, but still felt like oil, not oil and diesel together. Where do you guys get your diesel. As far the injection pump leak, i'm replacing the o-ring as soon as 4wheel auto gets it in along with the fuel filter.

03-11-08, 01:09 AM	#22
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 1,993	If smoke is only on start-up of a cold engine, then it is probably glow related. Check to see if all your glow plugs are working. If it is on start-up even when the engine is still warm, then I would say it is valve guide seals. __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

05-05-08, 09:19 PM	#24
Diesel_Boy IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 12	Yes yes, its an old thread, but thought i would post incase it gives someone piece of mind........ Notice a common theme???? The Grey cruiser has 300,000+k's on the clock and the maroon cruiser has done 120,000k's. Thats running slowly in low range. They all do it regardless of age and condition. Its injection related. Mine is the Maroon cruiser, and it is currently in the shop getting the injectors overhauled. I am getting them set to a higher burst pressure and having the pump timing advanced. That should complement the adjustments i am going to make to off boost fuel compensator. (adjustments that get the turbo boosting at 1000rpm rather than the factory spec 2500rpm ) I have a tech article on how to make the adjustments if anyone is interested, where do i post it?? __________________ Suzuki LJ50 2stroke, 1989 SWB Nissan Patrol, 1990 80 Series Landcruiser Last edited by Diesel_Boy; 05-05-08 at 09:24 PM. Reason: Bad Spelling ;)

05-06-08, 09:47 AM	#26
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 1,993	I have said over and over, if you are unsure if the smoke is fuel or engine oil, take a good smell of your tail pipe. If it smells like burnt motor oil (blue), it could be your turbo, valve guide seals or your oil rings. If it smells like diesel (black or white), then usually it is your fuel filter, air filter, injectors or injector pump. Also, make sure your valves are properly adjusted - something I need to do soon myself. __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right