Blowing blue smoke.. in California

[Dewy]

Well... it has only been a few days since starting the van since replacing the head gasket a few days ago. Which felt like a huge accomplishment, it only took 3 months (parts, ignorance, time).

However, I initially was having challenges starting it and i thought it was to do with not getting enough power from the batteries/alternator and thru some self tests with no obvious answers I took it to a shop for a diagnostic test and was told the batteries and alternator were fine.

This morning it start first try, but it takes 5-8 seconds and requires my foot to be to the floor and this has been the case even with help from the battery charger. Yet when the engine is relatively warm it kicks over with not touching the pedal in half a second. So now my attention has been drawn to the blue smoke coming out the exhaust, along with lack of power. And just tonite I learned from a more seasoned mechanic than me, which does not take much, that this can be caused by air getting in somewhere. Which i suspect is why it takes time to start ... to get all the air out.

A question/suspicion i have is the fuel line that connects to the back of the head on the drivers side, underneath the manifold (perhaps connected to the turbo?) this was a SOB to put back in and in the process i may have bent it too much and with those metal tubes bending them back can crack them. I remember doing that with an old golf club once and when i tried bending it back it broke. So if there was a crack in this line would it be the cause of blowing smoke and limit the acceleration?

Any tips would be appreciated. I am trying to get back on the road to head south to Cabo and picking up my dad in LA on the way.

cheers,
neil

[after oil]

5 to 8 seconds to start from cold? whats the problem?... thats normal for me.
im not sure which fuel line you mean, can you post a photo? theres no fuel lines to or from the turbo. the fuel follows a path from the filter straight to the IP and then into four pipes to the injectors and then back to the IP and return to the tank

[Dewy]

Afteroil thank you for your reply. It is somewhat comforting knowing that it takes 5-8 seconds to start, but i don't recall it being like that before, but it has been 3 months since i have turned it over.

So the suspect fuel line and i don't know it is a fuel line, but i do have a picture of it in my gallery. I am using one of those rod magnets to point to it. This should be the link to it http://www.delica.ca/Photos/displayimage.php?pos=-752.

So question to those who read this;
Does blue smoke mean air is getting into the fuel or oil somewhere? or could it be a whole wack of the possibilities.

thanks again

[DelicaMark]

As I understand it some blue smoke on start up is okay. As for whether or not that means you have an air leak???

[mararmeisto]

...[t]his morning it start first try, but it takes 5-8 seconds and requires my foot to be to the floor and this has been the case even with help from the battery charger. Yet when the engine is relatively warm it kicks over with not touching the pedal in half a second...
neil

Are you letting the glow plugs do their job? Are you waiting for the 'click'? The glow plug relay is active from key-to-ON-position for about 8 seconds, at which point you turn the key further to START and it should fire up immediately.

When the engine is warm, there is enough residual heat in the block to help along the combustion process without the assistance of the glow plugs.

It sounds like you're doing compression starts, which is why you're getting the big cloud of smoke out the pipe.

[jessef]

'some' blue/gray/black smoke on start up is 'okay'. usually replacing a fresh set of glow plugs will cure the starts.

When the engine is already warmed up and it starts in a few seconds compared to 8seconds when it's cold, that points to the glow plugs or some water/air in the fuel.

[Dewy]

i meant to reply to this post sooner.

but i did find out why the blue smoke was billowing, hesitation on starting and the lack of guts. My timing belt was off by only one tooth. And as soon as i fixed that it purred like a kitten and starts now instantly.

thanks for your tips and advice.

peace neil