Diesel gurus, please help diagnose my 1HD-T

[asutherland]

Hey guys

Over the last few months I've been doing a lot of MUD and Google searches, but haven't found my exact problem. (or at least a thread with answers in it)

I know quite a few things -can- cause white smoke, so I'll list things I've tested, adjusted or replaced, as well as some that are still on the list.

First off, everyone loves specs and symptoms (except me, of course...)

• 1993 HDJ81 with 1HD-T with 178,000 kms
• Intermittent white smoke, could be slightly blue but the lighting can affect the way it looks
• When I first got the vehicle, it burned a lot of black smoke on accel. I played with the fuel screw and reduced it to the point of getting a tiny puff of black on first accel, but once turbo has spooled it doesn't burn black anymore.
• Usually on low loads, such as waiting at an intersection or crawling on the trail. Occurs more when in D (drive) or 1st and 2nd, dramatically reduced (to nearly nothing) when in Neutral and Park. 4-Low doesn't make a difference.
• Very intermittent, on a 30 min drive through the city, 3/4 of the stop lights it'll puff out smoke but 1/4 it won't. Not related to how long I've been driving for.
• No coolant leaks, and doesn't burn any coolant. Levels haven't changed at all.
• Burns about 1L oil in 10,000km
• EGTs post turbo seem normal, 300-600 F during normal operation and 900-1,000 on hills
• Fuel economy seems about normal from what others say. I get about 500-550km (not calculating for larger 315 tires) in city and 650-700 on highway
• Worse in cold whether (to be expected...) but doesn't get better when the engine is fully warm.
• Power seems normal. Does not stutter, have issues idling, or have issues starting - other than the 3 times listed below...
• 3 times since I bought the truck it would not start when cranking over. Cranking power was good, it really tried... but would not start until I used the "manual" IP pump and gave it 3 or 4 good pumps. One time this happened the truck sat for a week, the other time it only sat overnight.

Following are possibilities?

• I have replaced air filter
• I have replaced the fuel filter.
• I have timed the IP to FSM specs (it was too far advanced)
• I have had the valve lash checked. Slightly out of spec (too loose) but nothing that would cause this
• I have tried injector cleaner, including the highly concentrated expensive BD stuff on a nearly empty tank
• I have removed the ACSD (prior to IP timing)
• I have installed a catch can exactly like LanceCruiser's in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/320050-thoughts-oil-catch-can.html
• I have NOT replaced / rebuilt injectors
• I have NOT had the compression tested
  
• Small amounts of air in the fuel line?

I've also been able to determine that the smoke coming out is definitely grey/white with a tinge of blue. I've been told by someone that knows more than me (lol) that this is UNBURNT diesel, likely from clogged or damaged injectors. Diesel that didn't spray out of the injectors in a fine mist and therefore didn't combust.

I will mention again that the smoke is MOST apparent when in a drive gear (ie. D, 2, 1, R...) and hardly noticeable at all when in N or P. Whether I'm in 4-low doesn't seem to have any affect on it either way.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

Definitely change your fuel and air filters, just to eliminate this as a potential problem.

you should check for air in the lines. The easiest way is to put a clear hose between the fuel filter and the IP. If there are bubbles you see them.

However, this would not explain the white smoke and oil consumption. We once had a turbo seal blow on a turbo-3B, and it blew lots of white smoke under low loads. Maybe that;s what happened.

J

 

[asutherland]

Definitely change your fuel and air filters, just to eliminate this as a potential problem.

Yeah...I will try and change the fuel filter this weekend.

you should check for air in the lines. The easiest way is to put a clear hose between the fuel filter and the IP. If there are bubbles you see them.

Good idea... is it 3/8 tube I'm looking for?

However, this would not explain the white smoke and oil consumption. We once had a turbo seal blow on a turbo-3B, and it blew lots of white smoke under low loads. Maybe that;s what happened.

J

See I didn't think 1L usage for 10,000km was bad at all. Though maybe that's just from my days owning a Honda

There is no oil smell to the white smoke at all... only diesel smell.

 

[Enigma]

Keep us posted Andrew. Mine has similar smoke issues, but from what I've read and heard, it's pretty common with these engines.
I think I need to get my injectors done, as my mileage has gone for a crap it seems lately.

 

[lostmarbles]

Based on those times you had to pump the primer to get it to start ... I think the smoke problem could well be associated with a fuel-line (or fuel-filter etc) leak that is sucking a bit of air into your fuel.

And I don't think an oil consumption of 1 litre per 10,000km is anything to worry about.



Edit: I'm only suggesting that an air leak may cause smoke because I've heard others say that it does. (I have no personal experience of that.)

But Toyota themselves do say that a clogged fuel filter and early-opening nozzles cause smoke:

 

[asutherland]

Based on those times you had to pump the primer to get it to start ... I think the smoke problem could well be associated with a fuel-line (or fuel-filter etc) leak that is sucking a bit of air into your fuel.

And I don't think an oil consumption of 1 litre per 10,000km is anything to worry about.

Yeah, I will try the clear hose trick and see what I get. Will post up results!

Keep us posted Andrew. Mine has similar smoke issues, but from what I've read and heard, it's pretty common with these engines.
I think I need to get my injectors done, as my mileage has gone for a crap it seems lately.

Will do Jeff. I was really hoping that the IP timing would fix my issue. I was hoping it was too retarded. But it was actually too far advanced. We set it back to factory specs though, so cross that one off the list! I really hope it's not the injectors, I've been kind of leaving that to the last as they are $$$

It is common for these engines... but I'm sure Toyota didn't release them like that from the factory.

 

[asutherland]

It's been a couple weeks so I thought I would update my thread.

- I replaced the fuel filter a few days ago. No change in the smoke.

- I was going to run clear line for the section of fuel hose between the filter and IP, but Lordco (ugh) gave me the wrong size hose and I didn't notice, so I ended up putting the existing factory hose back on. I also used new stainless steel hose clamps on the fuel line as the factory ones were so loose they allowed me to pull the hose off without even taking the clamps off first.

- I installed a catch can exactly like LanceCruiser's in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/320050-thoughts-oil-catch-can.html I figured it couldn't hurt and would give me a good idea of how much oil I'm losing through that breather, and whether the oil in my intake tube is from that or my turbo.

- I ran some very expensive BG (or was it BD?) concentrated diesel injector cleaner through a nearly empty tank, to no effect.

I've also been able to determine that the smoke coming out is definitely grey/white with a tinge of blue. I've been told by someone that knows more than me (lol) that this is UNBURNT diesel, likely from clogged or damaged injectors. Diesel that didn't spray out of the injectors in a fine mist and therefore didn't combust.

I will mention again that the smoke is MOST apparent when in a drive gear (ie. D, 2, 1, R...) and hardly noticeable at all when in N or P. Whether I'm in 4-low doesn't seem to have any affect on it either way.

 

[ForealBoreal]

Time for injectors

Might as well adjust your valves while your at it and check your timing too

$$$ dame two stage injectors

 

[asutherland]

Time for injectors

Might as well adjust your valves while your at it and check your timing too

$$$ dame two stage injectors

Sigh.

What's the consensus on the best way to go for injector rebuilds? Any success stories around BC?

 

[canucksafari]

My experience with injector caused smoke is that the uncombusted fuel comes out as black smoke. I am not sure if failure with a two stage injector can produce white smoke. The only time I have had an issue with white smoke is when I got caught with bio and the temp went down below -15C. That was caused by the filter waxing up. Usually it is a clog or air getting into the fuel system which causes white smoke.

I have noticed following 13BTs that on decending a long hill they tend to blow a bit of oil - enough to see and smell but not enough to make the sump level dive. My understanding is this is either coming from leaky valve guide seals or a leaky turbo bearing seal. Under power, the smoke clears up. Actually, I followed an 81 with the exact same issues. The owner found that it was leaking oil past the turbo seal.

You can do a leakdown test to check your valve guide seals. The turbo would have to be opened up and inspected to see if that was the issue. By then, you might as well pay for a rebuild. The injectors would have to be bench tested. I am not sure if there is anyone around BC who can bench test them. I was talking to John from ATEB this past weekend. He told me that there are issues with rebuilt two-stage injectors using aftermarket parts. He recommends people bite the bullet and buy new Denso injectors. They cost more up front but will be a lot cheaper in the long run.

 

[lostmarbles]

.....You can do a leakdown test to check your valve guide seals. ....

Not that I'm aware of John...

How?

 

[ForealBoreal]

If it were my truck I would:

Change fuel filter
Check and replace if necessary the air filter
Install a catch can
Adjust your PVC baffles under your valve cover
Valve adjustment
Clean your intake and all of your turbo stuff of oil mist do you can monitor where the oil is coming from
I would get your injectors done and then drive it and monitor it.
I would wait on the turbo and see how those changes affect everything and if you were still burning oil an getting a greasy turbo I would go through the turbo

I am not looking forward to the day when my ip goes as I will send off the injectors at the same time

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

I am not looking forward to the day when my ip goes as I will send off the injectors at the same time

Yeah, that's what I just did a few months ago. US$1800 later everything was like new...

 

[petermac]

If it were my truck I would:

Change fuel filter
Check and replace if necessary the air filter
Install a catch can
Adjust your PVC baffles under your valve cover
Valve adjustment
Clean your intake and all of your turbo stuff of oil mist do you can monitor where the oil is coming from
I would get your injectors done and then drive it and monitor it.
I would wait on the turbo and see how those changes affect everything and if you were still burning oil an getting a greasy turbo I would go through the turbo

I am not looking forward to the day when my ip goes as I will send off the injectors at the same time

Where would you send your IP and injectors? The day has come for my 77 it would appear - or is very close anyways...

 

[petermac]

Yeah, that's what I just did a few months ago. US$1800 later everything was like new...

Who did the work for you? Did you ship the pump and injectors?

 

[asutherland]

My experience with injector caused smoke is that the uncombusted fuel comes out as black smoke. I am not sure if failure with a two stage injector can produce white smoke.

I'm not sure about that... I was under the understanding that in regards to fuel related smoke issues, white/grey smoke is unburnt fuel, whereas black smoke is paritally burned fuel.

The white/grey smoke was described to me as sort of like a "diesel humidifier" of the completely unburnt fuel (Usually as a result of injectors not atomizing the fuel into a mist that can burn)

 

[Enigma]

I have the same white/grey smoke, so I'm keeping tabs on your results.

What fuel filter did you end getting anyways?

 

[asutherland]

I have the same white/grey smoke, so I'm keeping tabs on your results.

What fuel filter did you end getting anyways?

Hah, why don't you replace your injectors, and I'll do my turbo seal?

I bought one from a local shop that deals with JDM imports - Marigold Auto. It was about $45.00, and one that he imported from Japan... I'll find the part number and post it here later. Worked perfectly.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

Who did the work for you? Did you ship the pump and injectors?

A local shop that deals with heavy duty diesel applications. No problem getting the 2 stage injectors rebuilt, with brand new nozzles. This is in san diego, but if you are interested I can post the contact info.

 

[asutherland]

A local shop that deals with heavy duty diesel applications. No problem getting the 2 stage injectors rebuilt, with brand new nozzles. This is in san diego, but if you are interested I can post the contact info.

Sure man, that would be great. How much did the rebuilds cost you (injectors alone, not IP) and have they been fine since? Did it clear up your smoking issue if you had one?