2.8 Turbo Diesel Problems

[Gerry]

Hi,

New to the site, just bought a 98 GU patrol with the mighty 2.8 turbo diesel on board. It its currently a non goer, the guy I bought if from blew a head gasket and then hydro locked it try in to start it. He got a new head and put it on and the thing still not running properly, the seller thought it might have bent a conrod or something.

It doesn't sound off beat as I crank it over and I have managed to start it and in runs fine at idle and up to about 1200 rpm, after that it gets uneven a the revs go up and down a bit, it kinda like its starving for fuel. I'm thinking the bottom end is ok and it may be something to do with the fuel pump (maybe it got air in it or its not timed correctly) or the cam timing. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks
Gerry

[krbrooking]

I'd be still checking the bottom end fairly well mate can put a huge amount of stress on the motor locking it like that. I know I had a few issues with getting mine started after the rebuild and just re-adjusted the fuel pump a bit more and has been good ever since.

[Gerry]

Do how do you adjust the fuel pump on a 2.8?

[Gerry]

Took it for a run up the road and its blowing some white smoke, is that engine oil burning?
Hard to start when its hot too

[Wine_maker]

Hi! How much oil did you add to engine every 300-500 km?
Did you saw the oil in the coolant?

[Gerry]

Only just got it so not sure how much oil it uses, it blows white smoke so i don't think its oil. I think its getting water into the combustion camber some how. Hard to start sometimes and is a bit hesitant and misfires when i accelerate.

[Lieney]

white smoke could be coolant being burnt due to a crack etc, or ineffective combustion of the diesel due to bad compression.
If the engine has been hydraulic locked, I'd be pulling the head at minimum and getting a DTI (dial test indicator) / level etc out and doing some serious checking of each pistons TDC at minimum.
If you've got a bent rod and it lets go, your up for an engine.
If you've damaged the timing for whatever reason and it lets go - engine
If the crank has been damage and lets go - engine.
It could simply be something as small as the injection pump, but if its blown a head gasket, and then been subjected to a decent hydraulic lock, I would not be driving it unless I was waiting for the engine to go BANG. SO I could get a 4.2 or duramax maybe.
Get a coolant pressure tester and test it to see if it holds when the engine is cold and hot. That will give you an indication if its coolant leaking into the combustion chamber. Or pull your glow plugs or injectors. I believe if they look fairly clean, then water is getting in there and steam cleaning them.
Also consider pulling your injectors / glow plugs and compression testing it.
Hope it helps, and its a small issue

[Gerry]

Its had a new head put on since the head gasket blew, so the top end should be ok. Im thinking it may be the fuel pump not timed correctly, its driven off the cam belt. This may explain why its not burning fuel properly and difficult to start. What do you think?

[Wine_maker]

Check marks on the fuel pump, may be inject moment is wrong. But I'm not sure that problem is there, if moment wrong always black smoke.
Try to change the air filter. Check marks on the timing belt. Lets hope that there is a few small problems than the big one.

[krbrooking]

Do how do you adjust the fuel pump on a 2.8?

There is a bolt on the back which is part of the mounting bolts, where it bolts up it has a slotted/ adjustable slide on he pump that you can move back and forward. Sort of like you would adjust our power stearing tension. I can't remember wether you can adjust it with timing belt conected and under tension or not, also if it is a hole tooth out might have to take it off anyway.

Also x2 what lieney and wine maker said, I think it is deeper than that like stuffed block by the sound of the symptoms.

[Wine_maker]

By the way, what about fuel consumption?

[Gerry]

The fuel has been sitting in the tank for the last 6 months could this be a problem

[Wine_maker]

I don't think so. But fuel filter can be.
How it made cold start?