One for the mechanics.

[Polar Bear]

My old Kontiki 2.5td did this for at least ten years and nobody ever got to the bottom of it. New Glow plugs once fixed it but it didn't last long. Then they suggested it was the injectors. They were fixed and it improved a bit but returned to form eventually. In the end I just left it. It would be a bit lumpy in the end on start up as well as kicking out smoke. Like yours as soon as you drove it up the road it was fine and stayed fine until you left it overnight and started it again the next day. I ran it like that for years and tens of thousands of miles. Every time I started it the ice cap lost another metre and a dozen polar bears died.

Oi! you leave my relatives alone. The van may be over-fueling on start up. Check if the oil is contaminated with diesel.

 

[Marty]

I have a similar thing but only if I put my foot down in 4th going into 5th it never smokes any other time. 2.8 peugeot 100,000 miles.

 

[KATBIT]

It's probably the valve stem seals are getting old and hard.
As its been mentioned you could try the stop smoke, but it will be a temporary job.

Depending on what base vehicle you have.

You could live with it and wait till it gets worse or get the head serviced.

A decent mechanic will be able to do a diagnostic for little money and then you can make your own decision.

The only major factor is the smoke test with the MOT .

She mite fail if there's visual blue smoke at yhe time.

 

[Wooie1958]

My 2006 Peugeot 2.8 HDi had a mind of it`s own as from new, sometimes it did and sometimes it didn`t,

Had it back into to main dealer several times under warranty and they said it was fine. Thankfully it was never a problem at MOT time.

With its new owner it`s just passed the latest MOT at 105,500 with no advisories.

 

[gasgas]

There are three rules with smoke from a diesel engine:
1) White smoke = fuel injected but not burnt . (therefore engine doesn't start, but plenty of compression)
2) Blue smoke = oil burning (when engine is running)
3) Black smoke = fuel mixture too rich (when engine is running)
4) No smoke = engine running OK.

There's not a lot else you need to know, just remember the above.
Blue smoke = oil burning, then when engine has started and running, if no smoke the amount of oil being burnt is negligible. Add a tin of something and sleep peacefully

 

[clive1]

Ex valve oil seals, buy a can of stop smoke and add to oil, my car was doing this and now does not, rings only glase if town slow driving & some engines dont like semi or full senthetic oils, if yours is a older donkey only use standard 15/40 oil.
It will take a few weeks for the oil additive to do the trick.

Better still 20W50

 

[trevskoda]

Better still 20W50

Not a good idea as will wear the bearings out fast on cold starts.

 

[gasgas]

Better still 20W50

Or better still, EP140
Having said that, STP is very sticky stuff and won't dribble off the bearings

 

[trevskoda]

Or better still, EP140
Having said that, STP is very sticky stuff and won't dribble off the bearings

True but it takes ages to get there hence early bearing fail, old hat from the dark ages.