Thread: Blowing blue smoke from Tdi

Can't help with blue smoke but I had white smoke really bad - turned out to be the timing belt was out - the smoke was unburnt diesel - however you would notice a serious reduction in power if that happened.

burning oil is generally an indication that you have a more serious problem and blue smoke means there is oil being burnt. How much oil is it using between changes? Generally worn piston rings or even a cracked or damaged one. Blowing blue smoke has nothing to do with needing an oil change, however not changing the oil at regular intervals will speed up the rate at which your pistons wear.

My advice is take it to a mechanic and have them do a compression test, if there is a damaged piston ring that piston will be down on compression and you will be able to narrow down the cause.

If the rings are worn and you havent got the cash to rebuild the engine or source a new one, running thicker oil will bide you some more time. Matt

Could also be leaking/blown turbo oil seals. This often results in plumes of white/blue smoke. An indication would be oil in the plumbing to the intercooler.

Good luck. I hope it's not expensive whatever it turns out to be.

OK my past 2 Defenders have done the following.
Note 1st was a 200TDI, new one is a 300TDI

Only noticable in Low range, i have not seen it in High Range, but i guess it does.
When i am in LR and down a hill and say i'm in 2nd Low, then if i need to just pick the pace up a smidge going down the hill i touch the throttle to get it moving a bit quicker, at about 1/8 to 1/4 throttle is starts blowing blue smoke, alot also, then i nail it and it clears.....
Its like its sucking oil past the valve stem seals....

As 2 of my cars have done it and one was 180k old and the other 330k old..... its strange.
No LR mech can tell me what it is......

Clarkie

Ah the old blue smoke going downhill symptom.
Mine used to do the same, thought the worst had visions of rebult motor and the like, the had a new timing belt fitted by the expert (see suppliers list) fixed it, the cause the timing was out by two teeth.

what seems like a major problem could in fact be a simple one, mine had been doing it from 70,000 km when i bought it to 165k when the belt was changed.



john