Help/advice please - loss of power/smell

[Bertiebald]

Hi there,

Hoping you will be able to help me with current problem with my 2.7td (53 plate) and apologies for the length of the post in advance.

About 2 weeks ago whilst towing my horse and trailer I started to lose power in higher gears particularly noticeable in 4-wheel drive. Put vehicle into 2-wheel drive to make it home and it was better but still not right - no idea why that made any difference but was just glad to make it home. There was also a really strong smell of gas (as in north sea not USA).

I dropped it into my local mechanics to get it checked over and they said they couldn't find anything wrong, no obvious leaks but did acknowledge there was a strong smell but they thought it was maybe the clutch.

I have been driving the vehicle every day and I am convinced it's not clutch related, it doesn't feel like it is slipping at all, nor does it smell like a burning clutch. It still smells 'gassy' but the smell is not there all the time, so I was wondering if it is unspent diesel and I have a problem with the turbo.

Jumped in 'Big Ted' this morning to go to work, started him up and we had clouds of white smoke billowing out behind us (not just the usual initial exhaust fumes). It cleared after about 5 minutes but now wondering if I actually have a cylinder head problem.

In the last 3 months I have had fuel lines replaced as they were corroded and also the power steering line changed as it leaked and I am now at that horrible cusp of do I keep him and pay another garage bill or cut my losses

 

[eurag]

I hope you were using 4WD off road. Using it on road will bugger up the transmission as there is no center diff!

 

[judd750]

white smoke is normally air getting in the fuel system,
check your furl line connections are air tight,
can also be the fuel filter not sealing properly on the filter primer head

 

[Fez_uk]

4 wheel drive? On tarmac? I hope you have not been doing this?

 

[Banshee]

Hi there,

Hoping you will be able to help me with current problem with my 2.7td (53 plate) and apologies for the length of the post in advance.

About 2 weeks ago whilst towing my horse and trailer I started to lose power in higher gears particularly noticeable in 4-wheel drive. Put vehicle into 2-wheel drive to make it home and it was better but still not right - no idea why that made any difference but was just glad to make it home. There was also a really strong smell of gas (as in north sea not USA).

I dropped it into my local mechanics to get it checked over and they said they couldn't find anything wrong, no obvious leaks but did acknowledge there was a strong smell but they thought it was maybe the clutch.

I have been driving the vehicle every day and I am convinced it's not clutch related, it doesn't feel like it is slipping at all, nor does it smell like a burning clutch. It still smells 'gassy' but the smell is not there all the time, so I was wondering if it is unspent diesel and I have a problem with the turbo.

Jumped in 'Big Ted' this morning to go to work, started him up and we had clouds of white smoke billowing out behind us (not just the usual initial exhaust fumes). It cleared after about 5 minutes but now wondering if I actually have a cylinder head problem.

In the last 3 months I have had fuel lines replaced as they were corroded and also the power steering line changed as it leaked and I am now at that horrible cusp of do I keep him and pay another garage bill or cut my losses

I was going to ask when you'd last changed the oil in the transfer box but after reading on and hearing of the plumes of smoke it does sound engine related.

The symptoms scream "head gasket" but I know from experience that these blocks are strong as an Ox (I nearly boiled mine to death)

Are you 100% you've not got air in your fuel lines? If you want to make sure then you may want to invest in a pair of these from me :thumb2
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21195

Given the rough running clears after a few mins, I'd then be looking at the glow plugs, check voltage across all points on the rail and do the jump lead test on all 4 plugs

Report back, we'll get you sorted without a hefty garage bill :thumb2

 

[Bertiebald]

We were up a forestry track when using 4-wheel drive (in heavy rain) and had about 2-3 miles before we arrived onto tarmac, hope that allays your worries slightly!

 

[Bertiebald]

Judd750 & Banshee,

Could air be getting into fuel lines after having pipes replaced a couple of months ago?

Would this cause the weird smell I'm getting cause that is the worst part about it all, the car stinks and it's totally overpowering but not there all the time?!?!?!?

 

[Banshee]

Judd750 & Banshee,

Could air be getting into fuel lines after having pipes replaced a couple of months ago?

Would this cause the weird smell I'm getting cause that is the worst part about it all, the car stinks and it's totally overpowering but not there all the time?!?!?!?

Sounds feasible mate, any noticeable leaks?

 

[judd750]

i`ve had air in fuel lines , that caused loss of power and white smoke on start up on mine,
fit a clear hose just after the fuel filter and check for air bubbles first thing on a morning,
as to the smell , i never had that with mine

 

[solarman216]

Do you have a cat on your model? if so and it is getting choked it can make a nasty smell, Rick

 

[Bertiebald]

Thanks for all your help and feedback.

Unfortunately, it will need to go into garage to get checked out as I am not in the slightest mechanically minded, complete polar opposite to the rest of you for which I apologise profusely :bow

 

[Banshee]

Thanks for all your help and feedback.

Unfortunately, it will need to go into garage to get checked out as I am not in the slightest mechanically minded, complete polar opposite to the rest of you for which I apologise profusely :bow

No mechanical knowledge needed mate to replace the two pipes for the feed and return on the fuel filter, loosen the screws on the jubilees 4 in total 2 on each pipe, pull the pipes off, replace with clear pipe, cable tie the pipes, turn the car over and watch the pipes for air bubbles after running for a few mins

If you have bubbles you have a leak in your fuel line somewhere, could be that the repair last time wasn't done correctly or you're loosing in air somewhere else now. At least you go into the garage with more of an understanding of what it could be and not get ripped off :thumb2

 

[Sweety]

Could also be air getting in via the fuel filter as some don't seal properly

 

[elty001]

could also be water in the fuel.
check the drain under the fuel filter.
no tools needed just a little pot to catch what comes out.
I know the light on the dash normally comes on but not always.
just drain it and see what it looks like.

this might help you a little




The Answer is in the Smoke

We can generally understand what is wrong with a diesel engine by the colour of smoke emitted from the exhaust. There are three basic colours - black, white and blue.
Black Smoke

This is due to a air to fuel ratio imbalance, either the fuel system is delivering too much fuel into the engine or there is not enough clean air (oxygen ) a few things to look for:

Faulty injectors (injectors need attention at about 100.000 to 120 000 miles)
Faulty injector pump
Dirty air cleaner
Turbocharger or intercooler faulty
Problems within cylinder head, valves clogged up due to faulty EGR (exhaust gas recycling unit)

White Smoke

Normally means that the fuel injected into the cylinder is not burning correctly. The smoke will burn your eyes.

Engine/pump timing out
Fuel starvation to the pump causing the pumps timing not to operate correctly
Low engine compression
Water/petrol in the fuel

Blue Smoke

The engine is burning engine oil

Worn cylinders or piston rings
Faulty valves or valve stem seals
Engine over full with engine oil
Faulty injector pump/lift pump allowing engine oil to be mixed with the diesel

 

[rustic]

Do you have a cat on your model? if so and it is getting choked it can make a nasty smell, Rick

We have a cat... and he smells....:augie:augie
:lol:lol:lol

Certainly worth checking oil levels, maybe replace all of them, if you are unsure.:nenau
Rear diff takes special LSD oil.

To be fair, even on Forrest tracks you probably don't need 4 wheel drive as the rear diff is a limited slip diff on these vehicles.

Best if the rear tyres are the same tyre type, and the same depth of tread to save working the rear diff too much.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I wonder, is "Big Ted" an automatic? Cooked Gearbox oil has a "Gas" sort smell to it. Maybe the smell and the smoke are not directly linked. Could he have got hot during the initial tow, which has cooked the gearbox oil, and also caused an air leak in a diesel pipe somewhere.

 

[rustic]

I wonder, is "Big Ted" an automatic? Cooked Gearbox oil has a "Gas" sort smell to it. Maybe the smell and the smoke are not directly linked. Could he have got hot during the initial tow, which has cooked the gearbox oil, and also caused an air leak in a diesel pipe somewhere.

I read... "it's not clutch related..." so sounds like a manual to me... but good point about the oil.

With that in mind, some people put auto transmission oil in the transfer box so it might be the transfer box that has over heated due to being on a track? hence the strong gassy smell.
Especially if there is a mis match on the tread depths, front to back too.

I only use 4wheel drive on snow, ice or loose gravel or mud, but slip it in and out as I drive along, as the traction improves.

 

[Bertiebald]

Thank you for all your replies and advice. Quite a few things for me to look at over the weekend. Big Ted is a manual and yes I appreciate that it's a typical girlie thing that I've given him a name!!!

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Big Ted is a manual and yes I appreciate that it's a typical girlie thing that I've given him a name!!!

There are a lot of named ones on here, even some that think they are so "manly" not having aircon, sidesteps, or cream leather, still name their T2. LOL.



sent from my phone, sorry for any typo's.

 

[Barrbeast]

Yeh nothing wrong with giving her a name :thumbs

Mine's called Foxy (she's a Patrol = Foxy Patrol - see what I did there? :lol)

Spend my money on her instead of a girlfriend, my family think it's funny. Tbh there's only one thing I miss from that arrangement :augie ...