XSeries-forum

Hi.

My 2004 3.0d automatic is smoking bad. On a cold start up there isn't much, but when you get up to normal running temp it gets worse. On a flat road it seems pretty normal, but when you accelerate or get some resistance the smoke appears. If you go flat out a huge blast of smoke appears. Occasionally on cold engine, its almost as is the throttle is restricted in some way, it goes really slow, but absolutely no smoke. When you start the car the next time with some temp left in the engine, the throttle problem is gone.

Lots of power, seems all 218 hp is there.
Normal fuel usage
New air filter
Tank pump and the electric fuel pump under the car is new 2 years ago.
No messages in the dash regarding engine etc.
Cant hear any pressure leaks but haven't checked all hoses and pipes from the turbo.

Any tips or anybody known to the problem?

Could be the crankcase breather is blocked, you can remove the plastic engine cover and change it for a later Vortex type. The old Bog Roll type block up. The Vortex type were fitted as standard from late 2005.
Use the Search facility on the forum, there's loads of info on them. Worth checking and changing as if not resolved can lead to turbo seal failure.

Bad injector(s).  As in over-fuelling.  What is the economy like?

Turbo centre bearing failing leading to mixed oil/fuel smoke?  Needs careful monitoring and checking to avoid a 'runaway' hot engine which WILL destroy itself unless you can very quickly block the air inlet.  Check oil consumption/level.  Runaway engines burn the engine oil in the turbo and cause the engine to over-rev.  A wet towel rammed into the air intake is pretty much the only way to stop the engine!

Blocked air filter?

Blocked breather - as posted above?

Bad vacuum control on the turbo - check all hoses, and especially the small ones to a little plastic 'cage' device on the left side of the engine?

Thanks for the inputs so far, will check out more tomorrow.

Fuel economy is normal, and it's not oil smoke at all, have 15 years experience in motorsport and trashed a couple of engines before  its pure diesel smoke, looks like a badly tuned old mercedes drift diesel  )
No oil consumption. And new air filter installed recently as i wrote earlier

Anybody else got some ideas?

EGR valve?

Dodgy re-map

Camshaft sensor

Broken / faulty / failing injector loom

Gonna pull the egr valve tomorrow and check it out. Just ordered new filters og breather and som other stuff.

No remap, stock ecu.

The car is performing normal, its just that damned smoke. Guess it would have run a bit dodgy if it was a timing issue with the crank sensor or a injector problem?

Ive got to admit that it sounds more like injector issue to me too.

they can give some funny effects, but sometimes the effect on fuel consumption is hidden from you..

A dirty MAF could possible contribute too

Hi mate

I had exactly the same problem with my x5 I was told several times on forums that it's most likely to be valve stem seals injectors over fuelling/ glow plugs /etc etc I was told by a mechanic to put injector cleaner in tank EGR cleaner which I done but didn't do anything .
I have now solved the problem .
It was the turbo and EGR valve that was the problem replaced and problem solved now I can see cars behind me .
I'm not saying this is your problem but worth getting checked