Thread: Intermittent White/ Grey Smoke 300Tdi Defender.

Here is the back story, fuel lift pump and injector pump have both been leaking a little. It was suspected the fuel lift pump was main culprit so was replaced only days ago. Took the car for its first decent long run Today. Running very well until about an hour in I notice plumes of grey/white smoke behind me. Engine seems to be running fine and temperature gauge sitting where it should be. Smoke is coming from the exhaust, and has a distinctive odour, almost like the smell if you have driven with the handbrake left on. Anyway, I turn the engine off and let it sit for a minute. Crank it over again and all signs of smoke are gone and engine is running great again. On the way home the same occurs after about an another hour on the road, this time after I have just been hill climbing for 5 - 10 minutes. Same deal as before, pull over, kill the engine, re-start smoke gone, engine seems fine. I take it to my mechanic on the way home and he's not sure, but thinks the problem has to be with the leaky injector pump, but suggests perhaps an air bubble got introduced when the lift pump was replaced and it has gone through, effected the timing caused the fuelling issue etc. So, I take it for one more drive, seems to have sorted itself out no more sign of smoking? Maybe I didn't run it long enough last time round.

Anyway, I'm hoping for any troubleshooting advice or if anyone has experienced similar?

Thanks so much for the info, and sorry if this is a silly questuon, but do I risk serious damage to my engine driving it with this issue (i don't mean while it's smoking - but generally until it is solved?)