GQ RD28 Blowing lots of White/Grey/ touch of blue Smoke

1995 GQ RD28 Blowing lots of White/Grey/ touch of blue Smoke,

My son bought it with compression coming out the radiator thinking just a head gasket. Later finding out cracked head so purchased A new head and VRS head gasket kit and spent the weekend changing it with his mate. Blocked the EGR at both ends as pipe to manifold was broken. Now after all that we started it and it's now Blowing lots of White/Grey/ touch of blue Smoke like someone has a smoke machine going. After a long while it lessens but not totally gone. Still a constant puff even when hot. So need help. It wasn't doing it when he brought it home before they put the new head on.

Head gasket not sealing and or a rusted out gallery , was head torqued properly and was block cleaned properly ?

the boys had a look at the turbo (little bit of oil when they took the pipe off) and the diesel pump (adjusted slightly to get it back to factory setting I think as whoever had it must of played with it) and injectors (re-bleed them)today. It has very little blow by off the hose on the tappet cover. My sons mate thinks it is not firing properly because of a small miss. Process of elimination. Gone to supercheap to buy a compression tester, different oil 20w 60 ( my son he put in multi fleet penrite 15w 40 I don't think it was meant for his car) and filter plus engine flush.

GQtdauto I was thinking that it was a faulty gasket but the boys said they followed the instructions on the kit for the head and the new head (new blank) put together by a engine builder using the old cam which was checked and cleaned up, injectors (we are thinking suspect because original head when was checked and found to have a crack the guy just threw everything in a box the fuel rails etc). block was check by me and was straight couldn't get a 2 thou feeler gauge under straight edge (no gap). So checking compression next is on the cards then a flush and thicker oil with another compression test to see if any change. If good then injectors and pump to check or replace plus try different diesel as the full tank was already in it and we don't know if contaminated as filter did have little bit of water in it when changed.

okies we have a update compression with the old oil 1. 390psi 2. 410psi 3. 400psi 4. 360psi 5. 410psi 6. 350psi. all within 70 psi tolerance. Changed oil to 20w50 penrite full mineral oil new filter. Put diesel purge into/through fuel filter and not blowing any smoke so far. Waiting for it to cool down to try a cold start tonight. My son and his mate so happy wanting beers now lol.

oops 20w 60 for the oil

still blowing smoke because diesel pump needs right adjustments. We retarded it (I think pulled back toward drivers side) and got the smoke barely coming out while cold start (engine sounded like it was pinging so didn't rev very hard), it did blow a fuse in engine control before that (my son advanced the pump other way passenger side it had heaps of thick white/blue smoke) and stop working which got us worried. So hopefully can get my sons mate back here to set the pump and get a day pass so they can take it for a run as no rego and organize a rwc. Maybe I'll have my shed back soon.

Sounds like you guys had some fun and also sounds like you know what you're doing , glad it's working for you .

Alot of research (google) and a fair few phone calls to mechanics for advice probably annoyed the crap out of them LOL. This is my first diesel I've worked on alot my involved then petrols. my sons mate taught himself through trial and error with them(told him to do a apprenticeship). Just never give up learning.
I also told my son never ever buy a car if the guy already has it hot or supposedly charging the battery for you. And plays dumb about what it is like. Just conning you to pay more than it's worth. But on the bright side should be on the road in the next fortnight. All up so far around $4500 mark. Big lesson for a teenager.

Yes it's happened to quite a few of us and our kids , the traps are many when buying second hand no matter how carefull you are , if you can get what your after cheap enough and factor in motor repairs you're in front .

off to buy the gregories manual tomorrow at kawana supercheap(only place that has it and on special). Tried to download it but denied still, I think it was because I never got the confirmation email.
We are not sure of the injector pumps timing. Pump is pushed towards the battery (drivers side) and sounds like it is pinging so we think must be wrong but blowing less smoke. Jut afraid if we rev it it will go bang.

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Originally Posted by jsawrey

off to buy the gregories manual tomorrow at kawana supercheap(only place that has it and on special). Tried to download it but denied still, I think it was because I never got the confirmation email.
We are not sure of the injector pumps timing. Pump is pushed towards the battery (drivers side) and sounds like it is pinging so we think must be wrong but blowing less smoke. Jut afraid if we rev it it will go bang.

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Having a manual is good but you should be able to download the forum one ,AB usually fixes this sort of thing .
Not too sure how much info is in the manual about injector pumps , it's one of those things were not supposed to play with,
But from what little I've seen yeah there are cogs with timing marks but it's a big job because you need to get at the front of the timing cover .
From memory that means removing radiator etc to get at it , also there is some final adjustments that really need to be done by an expert .
I've replaced leaking seals in the top cover but didn't have to remove the whole pump .

yeah where were looking was for the td42 timing mark (nothing there at all) the rd28 is near the top radiator hose on the other side with no factory mark but a scratch. So all marks lined up and on the pump was a scratch to line up with the edge of a square cut out (moved it back and forth found best spot). Still blew lots of smoke so disconnected the fuel lines and put fresh diesel in a bucket put lines in started it and after a min or so ran great. So all the diesel in the tank no good (have to drain and replace). So we will take to a diesel place to get it tuned after. Gregories manual had info at back for rd28 motor (and pics which helped alot) so will take tappet cover off and check final torque as kit had angular 105 as last not nm torque which is in the manual. So far looking good though and found there is a secondry fuel filter we have to get new washers for and check to before fuel return on the pump. Keeping fingers crossed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jsawrey

yeah where were looking was for the td42 timing mark (nothing there at all) the rd28 is near the top radiator hose on the other side with no factory mark but a scratch. So all marks lined up and on the pump was a scratch to line up with the edge of a square cut out (moved it back and forth found best spot). Still blew lots of smoke so disconnected the fuel lines and put fresh diesel in a bucket put lines in started it and after a min or so ran great. So all the diesel in the tank no good (have to drain and replace). So we will take to a diesel place to get it tuned after. Gregories manual had info at back for rd28 motor (and pics which helped alot) so will take tappet cover off and check final torque as kit had angular 105 as last not nm torque which is in the manual. So far looking good though and found there is a secondry fuel filter we have to get new washers for and check to before fuel return on the pump. Keeping fingers crossed.

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The actual timing of the pump (mine) is by undoing two nuts and rotating the pump clockwise or anti clockwise this just alters when the fuel gets pumped in relation to where the piston is , never played with that cause I've got passion fingers .

Hi mate! Did you check a marks on the timing belt and on all its flywheels and crown wheels? May be the timing belt has a side slipping for a one tooth?

yeah we think the marks are right. Will be having a look next week when the boys have the time (not allowed to touch it without them). If nothing changes then its going to a diesel specialist in nambour. At least I get my shed back then.

Get your head right in the engine bay and have a real good look. You have to have your eyes level with the bottom timing mark, otherwise you may be off one tooth, because of parallax error. Been there, done that on my RB30.

Wrong injection moment (far or late) makes the same picture of smoke and weak engine.

All timing marks check out to be spot on. The boys checked number 1 compression stroke removing glow plug etc. Dial pressured the pump to factory and it didn't start. Had to advance pump 1 tooth on the gear to get it to start and run. Complete mystery I had to walk away too bloody confusing for me. Still white grey/blue smoke until warms up (goes away) and white grey when you punch it even when heated up. We can not take it for a run as not registered as some mechanics suggested.

the boys took off the crown wheel off the timing pump and the the key place is broken and flogged out. So their off to find another one. Hopefully that is the problem.

Finger crossed for it mate!

no improvement so my son is selling it now. Doesn't have the money to spend anymore on it (no work). So it runs and needs someone who has more no how on how to fix it. Here is the link if anyone wants it.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bude...rol/1165796269

Sad to hear it mate.

The price was sweet if you sold it so quickly.

he thought long and hard and cancelled the sale. Going for rwc and rego on Friday and saving up for another injector pump (2nd hand reco or full rebuild). Just have to put up with the smoke tell it warms up. They had to advance the pump, couldn't get it too run at factory settings of 8 degrees.

So thanks for all the advice and help guys much appreciation and safe travels.

It should be a very reliable vehicle if serviced properly. The RD28 uses the same block as the petrol RB30, but the diesel hammers a lot more. They have a habit of stripping out the key on the harmonic balancer, so it is a good idea to torque up the bolt and check it periodically. After the smoke problem has been fixed, I hope your son enjoys his new toy.

Try to smell the smoke. Is it smells oil or unburnt diesel?
Have you done the turbo pressure test?
Also, try to have a ride without the air filter.

the colour has gone a darker gray now after 600klms so we believe its the pump (has to be advanced to run). So on the road and regoed. He is saving up for a reco pump and new injectors and a fan assembly shroud etc. Has electric fans wired up to a switch (too both fans are on. original temp relay was faulty) and which draws to much power. Still blows heaps when cold (smoke screen lol) He already cut the muffler out I welded part of it but needs to get finished at a exhaust place (can't bend the pipe etc lol)

Try to smell the smoke. Is it smells oil or unburnt diesel? unburnt diesel
Have you done the turbo pressure test? the gauge says it is good
Also, try to have a ride without the air filter. we did no change

They have a habit of stripping out the key on the harmonic balancer, so it is a good idea to torque up the bolt and check it periodically. Yeah we haven't loctide yet as it has to come off when doing the pump and to put the a/c belt back on ( It broke trying to slide it in design fault for the pulleys)

Try to move the injection moment to 1 or 2 mm from the factory setup 0 marks.
Mine inj moment 4-5 m from mark now. But can't remember to the engine, or away from it.

Following this, our RD28T is blowing a bit of smoke at the moment also.

How did you go mate, any news?

Just a little tip tho, diesels are meant to ping :) so don't get to worried about the noise (unless its very extreme) Running lean is how they operate throttle control. Listen to a new common rail plenty of pinging thats why they put tons of sound damping on the engine covers.

Sorry haven't been on for awhile.
It was bad fuel which took awhile to get cleaned out of system thanks to expertise of a truck diesel mechanic who figured it out. My son recently sold it as he found out it was still encumbered and previous owner skipped country back to new zealand without paying debts. He's saving to buy another one but getting it revs check first this time.