XSeries-forum

Got a 06 3:0d and Getting white smoke on cold start up and clears in a few seconds ,  starts perfect first time , only really does it on colder mornings and when the weather is nice and hot its almost clear.
Had the codes checked and its showing all 6 glow plugs not working , so the question is to replace all the glow plugs and the control relay or just the plugs , and are the bosh glow plugs best or the beru ones all comments greatly appreciated.

Tim

hi tim,
mine has given the white smoke on cold start up since ive had it (5 years). scanner states 3 glow plugs out for this period also. never had a problem starting summer or winter. ive heard reports of glow plugs snapping when trying to be extracted. until mine is dificult to start i see no reason to attempt changing them.

[quote="fenj66"]
hi tim,
mine has given the white smoke on cold start up since ive had it (5 years). scanner states 3 glow plugs out for this period also. never had a problem starting summer or winter. ive heard reports of glow plugs snapping when trying to be extracted. until mine is dificult to start i see no reason to attempt changing them.
[/quote]

Im putting of changing them but its  annoying seeing the white smoke on a morning but if its gonna clear it up I'll change them , just wondered how many people have had the same problem.

mine does the smoke thing all year round, im not convinced changing the glow plugs will make any difference as they shouldnt be needed in summer, i think!

[quote="fenj66"]
mine does the smoke thing all year round, im not convinced changing the glow plugs will make any difference as they shouldnt be needed in summer, i think!
[/quote

Can anyone confirm that new glow plugs will stop the problem  :help2:

Will the faulty glow plugs cause rough idling for a few seconds on cold start up.

Yes.  But only for a couple of seconds or so until all 6 pots are firing and the idle speed controller can settle down.
Richard

[quote="X5Sport"]
Yes.  But only for a couple of seconds or so until all 6 pots are firing and the idle speed controller can settle down.
Richard
[/quote]

Only lumpy for 2-3 seconds maximum Richard

The white smoke is one of several things..

1 - 1st start humidity vapour... both petrol & diesel engines do this until a clean-burn is achieved.
      this is NORMAL
2 - Unburned diesel... this often also happens on 1st start until a clean-burn is achieved...

3 - There is a major injection pump issue and the diesel is being injected at too low a
    pressure to atomise and comes out of the exhaust as a thick white vapour.
4 - Heater plug mass failure where by several pistons pistons not firing & vapour results -
    for a short time until they eventually all fire up.

5 - Black smoke... Un-cleanly burned diesel with not enough oxygen - ie hard acceleration.

6 - Blue Smoke - burned engine oil - from worn engine parts.. piston rings/liners, valve stem seals etc.

As X5-Sport Richard says, it is normal for a few seconds of white smoke on start up for these fat ladies.

Regards to all.

Thanks for the replies folks the weather is hopefully getting warmer then the smoke on start up isn't as bad and vertually  dissapears when the weather is hot so I'll put of doing the glow plugs atm and spend some money on other things lol

Tim