rd28 starting problems

[geoff'o]

hi guys, hoping someone can help me here this is my first time on this forum. i have a 98 gu 2.8ltr turbo intercooled patrol.A few days ago my patrol decided to get hot( i know the reason for this) since then it has been a pig to start when its cold at night or first time in the morning. A lot of blue grey smoke spews from it when it finaly does start. I installed new glow plugs as the others where old and i thought maybe that would fix the problem but to no avail. Since this has happened i have notice a leak from the diesel pump as well. Could it be the deisel pump causing this or another issue. Once it starts it runs fine and when still warm its starts first go. Anyone got any ideas to help me out thanx. Geoff

[P4trol]

Geoff,

You may have other problems, but here are some tips that work for me:

When starting, use the airbag light as your glow plug timer. Crank the engine when the airbag light goes out.

If you do this and it still takes multiple cranks, check the priming pump under the bonnet (it's on top of the fuel filter, near drivers side).

The pump works by pushing the black piece down and up. If it is squishy, and therefore is pumping fuel, keep doing that until it goes firm. (then investigate why your fuel pressure is dropping)

If it is already firm, no need to do anything further.

Try that, report back.

[threedogs]

Not 100% but is there a fuel pump mod for this motor?.
check Nizzbits as I sent a part to a UK member but not sure if same motor
Check and change fuel filter and fuel lines

[geoff'o]

thanx for the tip but it has only done about 8000k since i put a new filter and ran injector cleaner thru the system but i am wondering if it is the diesel pump, as it has a leak in it which has only started since my engine got hot. As i said in my first thread it starts well once its warm so im thinking pump maybe or the electrical side to the glow plugs. Thanx again.

[geoff'o]

thanx for the tip i will let u know if it works , im either thinking diesel injector pump or electrical to the glow plugs

[geoff'o]

Hi i looked at that and the primer is a hard piece of plastic with a screw in it on top of where the fuel filter sits. I have pumped the accelerator a bit and it still takes multiple cranks and still blows a heap of white smoke when it starts , but to say that it does start without flattening the battery now i will investigate it further.

[Gerry]

My problem may be related. I have an RD28 GU patrol, it will fire up ok but it runs rough when cold and one of the injector is noisy for about a minute after startup. Ive loosed off all the injector lines from the pump and retightened them to try and stop any pressure drop or air getting into the lines overnight, but still having issue. It there gaskets or seals that i need to replace in the injector lines to ensure they hold their pressure?

[nissannewby]

There is an advance plate which can sometimes cause issues. The ferret in the vendors thread can help with these.

As for the original post. If its only started doing it after getting hot I would be inclined to suspect the head. The 2.8 are known for head issues.

[Kellin09]

Hey geoff. Did u solve this problem. I have also just bought a gu with an rd28 and have the exact same problem. Need ur help and advice??

[the ferret]

Check glo plugs are all working, if it got very hot you may have blown the head gasket, this could cause the white smoke on start up as well as faulty glow plugs, hot start issue doesn't look like the problem as it starts when warm so I wouldn't buy the advance plate just yet.
Is there any loss of water ?
Cheers, the ferret.

[Kellin09]

My glo plug are brand new and fine. My injectors are brand new and fine. I've been told it's my fuel pump. But it could be an expensive guess I need to be sure.

[Ninja085]

Another thing you could do is check fault codes. I had a Bad no.1 injector which caused timing to be out, and showed up on the fault code.
wont hurt to rule it out.
Also MAF sensor, or even the backing plate on the crankshaft pulley has come loose like mine did, and spinning freely throwing out the timing.
I had hard cold start issues, and would run like a pig. I changed Glow plugs and injectors. Had fuel pump serviced still no change. And found the Crankshaft position sensor plate was loose.
Just a thought.

[Wine_maker]

What is the smell of smoke? Oil or diesel or no any smell?

If oil, it can be result of piston rings stratification. I had similar thing on my previous car after overheating.
Check the oil level (it will decrease) and working pressure in cylinders. Its fast and cheep diagnostics. If it will be low its bad.

Or another case. Check the coolant in the oil (white blobs and increase of oil level) or oil marks in the coolant. After overheating head gaskets also can sag and leak coolant into cylinders.

[Joelshero]

I am wondering if you have had it compression tested. If it is blowing white smoke that is something I would be looking at before changing injectors. You will have to re-seal your pump because any fuel leak will let some air in. If you want to test your glow plug wiring invest in a test light they are as cheap as $10, put the earth clamp on your negative terminal for your battery and the probe on any of the glow plug terminals. when you glow the motor watch the test light it will be illuminated while the glow plugs are and will switch off when the relay timer does. You may need a hand (second person/helper).

[Angus64]

Just a quick question. We have Nissan patrol 2004 st turbo. Just got the injectors etc done on it (about 600km ago). It has 170000k on the clock. Ever since we had the work done the patrol was cranky to start and would take quite a while to get going. Has never done this before. Anyway took it back and they reckon they have tested everything and they cant find a problem so replaced the glo plugs. Would the injectors being done up have anything to do with this problem? Am worried that no one has found out what caused it and that it may happen again? Never ever have had an issue with this vehicle. Thanks in advance

[Rob Ness]

Have exactly same problem with my RD28t 99 so now I turn on ignition and count 5-8 or the time your electric window winds down starts every time no probs , or just wait for the glow light to go off, try to start to soon floods it so there is your smoke problem, starting later than the eight count creates the same problem, cant tell you why this problem exists but just a small amount of patience saves a lot of angst I have had this problem since we bought the car 8 years ago, I just dont sweat it anymore