Smoking Pug TD diagnosis & replacement advice required

[blimp]

My once trusty 309 td has developed a new and interesting problem... Sitting on a steep downhill in traffic, I realised that I was pumping out clouds of white smoke from the exhaust Once on the level, it runs fine and the only visible exhaust is soot when I give it a bit of welly.Thoughts are that it could be the HG on the way out, but it is going in for professional diagnosis on Wednesday. Before then does anyone have any other ideas?Combine this with the weeping water pump which ideally necessitates/requires a cambelt change as part of the process, and I think I'm going to be car less pretty soon, as although I spent a fortune a few years back, HG changes are bloomin' expensive so I'm getting to the point of not being able to justify any more vast expenditure.Of course, as usual I'm typically skintish, so I now need to find a reliable(!) economical replacement hatchback that is possibly slightly interesting, all for less than a grand.I really fancy a Xantia because of the mad suspension, but the mad suspension sounds like an expensive hobby to keep going (especially as I never seem to have enough money!)So any ideas? I have spied a few half decent looking zx tds on the net, but it seems that there are never any half decent cheap cars around here (Wiltshire/Bristol area) for me to choose from.Damn the scrappage scheme.

[Milford Cubicle]

Was the engine cold? My 405 will belch out a bit of white smoke when the engine's cold, I assume it's only condensation.

[Timewaster]

The slope makes me think that oil is getting somewhere it shouldn't.Valve stem seals perhaps?

[ashmicro]

My money's on HGF. As a Rover man etc etc...

[blimp]

Thanks chaps.Engine was up to temp (I think) 'twas a couple of miles in to the journey.Valve stem seals - I had read that this could be the cause. From my rudimentary knowledge of mechanicables this sounds like a head off/expensive job.Can't remember if I read it here or somewhere else, but the XUD engines seem to start having coolant related issues around the HG at around 145k miles, and I'm just approaching 142k, so almost on cue!I was on a course last week which meant I had to use this hill. As I'll be back at work as normal next week, I could stick my head in the sand and pretend there is nothing wrong

[Milford Cubicle]

I remember the previous owner of my 405 mentioning something about valve stem seals to me now that I think of it. I've just been trawling the web and the consensus seems to be that they aren't worth repairing because they don't do any damage to older engines.

[Pillock]

I know it's not a pug, or a diesel, but I drove my Scirocco with knackered stem seals for over a year. Tended to puff a bit on overrun, usually pulling up at traffic lights would see me being overtaken by some white smoke.I too was told it was perfectly fixable, but not to worry really.Would a scrappy complete head not be a suitable fix if it's bothering you?

[r.welfare]

If it's not using water, or creating a lot of coolant pressure, or leaking oil spectacularly, then I wouldn't have thought it's the HG. Is the performance level down? Does the temperature gauge do funny things? Is the heater output affected?If it's none of these then it sounds like something seal-related given the angle of the hill. However, weeping/knackered water pump will cause problems sooner rather than later, so would need sorting. Not sure on the 145k "milestone" - my 405TD saloon made it to just over 199k before the HG split across the main oilway between the block and head, but then my estate needed a new HG plus head skim at 174k. I agree that a HG fix will be more than the car is worth. Perhaps widen the net to non-turbo 306s and early Xsaras? Avoid anything with a 1868cc engine rather than a 1905cc.

[Milford Cubicle]

What's the score with those 1868cc DW8 diesels, are they just an XUD with emissions modifications (I've read that a couple of times)?I've seen a few 1868cc C15s with fooked engines.

[ashmicro]

Blimp, what year is the car? I have a permatanned mate (oil, not sunshine) who knows about these things. I'll give him a ring.

[blimp]

If it's not using water, or creating a lot of coolant pressure, or leaking oil spectacularly, then I wouldn't have thought it's the HG. Is the performance level down? Does the temperature gauge do funny things? Is the heater output affected?If it's none of these then it sounds like something seal-related given the angle of the hill. However, weeping/knackered water pump will cause problems sooner rather than later, so would need sorting. Not sure on the 145k "milestone" - my 405TD saloon made it to just over 199k before the HG split across the main oilway between the block and head, but then my estate needed a new HG plus head skim at 174k. I agree that a HG fix will be more than the car is worth. Perhaps widen the net to non-turbo 306s and early Xsaras? Avoid anything with a 1868cc engine rather than a 1905cc.

Performance is better than ever - goes well enough, drinks very little.Heater is red hot. Temp gauge is steady, only creeps up when stuck in traffic for a long time on v hot days.The coolant level is a bit of a difficult one - the expansion bottle is black and metal with no lmarkings, so all I have ever done was top it up now and then, more so since the pump started leaking.I had been planning on spending my 250quid bonus on getting the pump sorted out, but cunningly the car knew I had some money coming and decided to take up smoking

[blimp]

Blimp, what year is the car? I have a permatanned mate (oil, not sunshine) who knows about these things. I'll give him a ring.

Its a 1990, 1769cc turbo lumped lump. XUD7T is the engine code.

[r.welfare]

Performance is better than ever - goes well enough, drinks very little.Heater is red hot. Temp gauge is steady, only creeps up when stuck in traffic for a long time on v hot days.The coolant level is a bit of a difficult one - the expansion bottle is black and metal with no lmarkings, so all I have ever done was top it up now and then, more so since the pump started leaking.I had been planning on spending my 250quid bonus on getting the pump sorted out, but cunningly the car knew I had some money coming and decided to take up smoking

Sounds as though the HG is OK then - you'd notice either serious oil leaks/loss or serious coolant loss, I reckon. You should get a warning light on the dash when the coolant level is low.I'd keep an eye on oil consumption for a wee while and then decide whether it's worth getting the water pump done.

[Richard]

What's the score with those 1868cc DW8 diesels, are they just an XUD with emissions modifications (I've read that a couple of times)?I've seen a few 1868cc C15s with fooked engines.

As far as I know it's an HDi engine but without the HDI bits if that makes sense. The 2 litre HDi is the DW10.Although the HDi engine is, if anything, stronger than the XUD these 1868cc engines do seem to break a lot. Maybe it's because they are mostly fitted to vans.

[blimp]

Well its back from the garage, and the diagnosis is that there is a solenoid on the injector pump that links to the inlet manifold that is playing up. As far as I can make out (talking to my mechanic and perusing Haynes) It is meant to sense how much air is being turboed into the engine so it can add any extra fuel. But in my case the solenoid is fooked and is allowing fuel into the rubber pipe which is then dumped intto the inlet manifold and causes the smoke. Makes sense really - what with all the downhill smoking!At the mo, the pipe has been disconnected and blocked off which will allow me to pootle to work for a week and half, then it is going back to the garage so they can talk to Pug and an injection specialist and see how it can be sorted and how expensive it is going to be.I'm actually quite chuffed (well, until I get the quote) as trying to find a half decent car around here for peanuts seemed an impossible task.

[Minimad5]

Hope it doesnt break the bank !Have not seen one for many years And i am quite fond of the rear lights on these

[blimp]

I don't see too many of them either, but the other day I went shopping and after I parked up and was walking accross the carpark I saw a red GLTD, so I went and moved my car next to it.Sad or what. Stupid thing was I never took a photo. D'oh. Though that reminds me about not long after I had bought it I was getting a tyre in ATS (never again ) and when I came out after paying, in the other bay of the shop was a same grey 5 door as well. I doubt that will evre happen again!