Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

[DaveJ]

Hello all,

Long time lurker, and now finally have myself a Deli!… Well actually, I now have 2 L 300s - from none to 2 in the blink of an eye, the Land Rovers now have to go apparently!

Unfortunately though, one of them is suffering from the lack of power and lots of smoke problem. The EGR valve has been removed and blanked off. I can hear the turbo spinning up and making that turbo whistling sound - I've just ordered a boost gauge from the bay.

There is a receipt with the car stating that the timing belt and balance belt were changed in December last year (12/12), on the receipt it also states injector pump removed resealed, re-installed and re-calibrated?

So, when you start from cold, it doesn't start to well. It also cuts out almost immediately. If you hold the revs on, you can hear that it is missing every now and again. I have read the many other post regarding this issue for both 300s and 400s, but none seem to have (all) the issues I am getting. The Deli will not even pull off my drive in the morning without putting it into low box. My other Deli flies (well of course that is relative as it is a L300) off the drive no problems.

As there is quite a lot of smoke coming out, I am not sure whether this is a fuelling issue, turbo issue, or whether the belts were not fitted correctly? Once it is warm it sounds okay ticking over, but it doesn't drive to great (compared to my other (the wifes) Deli) you really notice the difference in power. Wife followed me in her car yesterday and said mine smokes a lot - all the time. Mostly black smoke (over fueling?).

Where should I start?

Thanks all

Big Merv

[Google]

[motorang]

Hi
sounds as if the timing was off. I personally would have the timing checked (see ift the cam belt sits on the pulleys right, there are marks that have to be observed for that).
One other issue could be the bottom pulley coming loose on the crankshaft.
Like here:

http://www.MDOCUK.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33297&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

This can happen if someone assembled the pulley/belt stuff not correctly (with the right torque and maybe some threadlocker).

Andy
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http://motorang.com/L300

[DaveJ]

Thanks Andy.

Will take the covers off and have a look at the timing marks this evening - once I figure out how to remove them....its all a little tight in there. Especially with me extra padded arms and sausage fingers! :D

Big Merv

[andyman]

Start with the cooling fan shield. Undo the top centre screw, then the 2 halves of the shield slide away from each other and un-bayonet. simples! The top timing cover is relatively simple to unbolt and remove, for the bottom one, and to remove the belts, its easier to drain the cooling system and remove the rad. Unless you have a tame Dobbie!
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[DaveJ]

Thanks Andy.

So what we have so far. Top timing cover removed and the timing marks line up fine. I can see that a new belt and tensioner are fitted. From what i can see from the balance belt from the top it looks new as does its tensioner. The bottom cover I have not removed yet.

The waste gate actuator is free and moves okay. The fuel pump is very clean and shiny looking and I suspect is at least a second hand one (lots of that yellow marking paint been put on it etc).  

The turbo is covered in oil and there is oil all along the underside of that side of the truck. However, I am not sure if this is due to someone putting a oil filter on or trying to take it off - oil filter has a slight dent in it.

Air filter is very clean and looks almost new.

So, do I put this all back together now and try the quarter turn of the fuel pump trick - this leaves me with the nagging doubt about why it cuts out and misses when it is first started up? The idle is to low mind - @500rpm so i could adjust that????

Any thoughts appreciated.

Big Merv

[andyman]

Tickover (warm) should be around 750rpm, at which point the van will start to creep forward in drive, so no faster. As one tooth out on the timing can severely affect running (which is what I suspected), turning adjustments to the pump should be very small. I take it that you've been able to check the crank pulley timing marks with the others? I would also be tempted to check out where that oil is coming from -  clean it all off and get it dry before you start it up. Mine is similarly oily on the driver's side, but I think its just the valve cover gasket. Hoping one of the more experienced mechanics can butt in here - I have fortunately had very few problems with mine - so far!
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[DaveJ]

Thanks Andy.

If the timing marks for the bottom pulley on the plastic cover are accurate, then all the timing is correct.

I am going to put my dial gauge on the injector pump tomorrow if I get a chance to see if it is okay. if I can get to it that is.


Dave

[DaveJ]

Evening all.

Think I might have bought a complete lemon!

I checked all the timing marks line up and they do. I put my dial gauge on the fuel pump and its is exactly as specified 1mm at 9 degress ATDC - what a job that was!

I have put it all back together but it won't run. it chuffs away a bit when you give it half throttle and billows out clouds of smoke whitegrey blue. Its like the philedelphia project! smoke screen.

I cracked the injector lines off one at a time and only number3 seams to be spraying enough diesel to allow the injector to atomise it. 1 2 and 4 are not putting an inspiring amount of fuel out at all?

Wife has named my hastey acquisition DDOD. Dead Deli On Drive.

boy am I popular

Help!

DaveJ

[andyman]

Dave, give it a dose of injector cleaner. If that doesn't work, get a quote for having your injectors serviced/refurbed - it's usually a lot cheaper than buying new ones, but just as effective. A search on here should find you some useful advice and names.
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[Yojimbo]

Hola, my guess is this, if you have cracked the injectors at the unions, and there is only diesel from one of them, its not the injectors themselves, its the supply to them, and I would look at removing the fuel stop solenoid and checking whats going on in there, I seem to recall some people suffering with problems with the stop solenoid coming apart. If you really did pull the injectors, and there is only decent fuel from one, its almost certainly them, I would remove them and get them dealt with by a diesel specialist.

[Yojimbo]

Oh and nice reference to the Philadelphia Project.

[DaveJ]

[DaveJ]

Quick update...'Blonde' lives!

So I have the van running now - there is still quite a lot of blue smoke at times and the turbo tends to scream more than whistle so I am suspecting the turbo is goosed. Lots of oil on it and a very slight drip of oil on the drive that side of the van in the mornings.

Will try to remove it at the weekend and take a look - like I know what I am looking for!!!???

Cheers

DaveJ

[DaveJ]

Not sure if anybody is still following this but........

So turbo area is absolutely caked in oil. You can't see s**t down there!  

so, I plumbed a turbo boost gauge in by tapping into the back of the egr blanking plate on the intake manifold. It was very lazy to spool up but then would rise quickly to 10psi but the motor still seemed very sluggish despite this boost. I therefore suspected a boost leak. Leak!   soapy bubbles everywhere! Lots of boost leak on intake manifold. horrendous exhaust gas leak on exhaust manifold.....ever likely me eyes were burning when driving it  

So with all this oil and leaks everywhere I decided to take it all off and start cleaning things a little. I thought I would treat myself to a new turbo from a taiwanese sellor as the price seemed okay. Cleaned my turbo up so I could send the part numbers and all and then awaited the arrival of a new turbo.

I therefore set to cleaning. The mating face on the exhaust manifold is a mess completely pitted and about 2mm off straight on the two ends. This has had an exhaust leak for a while. I sanded it as flat as I could and have leveledd it a little with exhaust putty stuff to try and get it to sit flat against the new manifold gasket I have.

Cleaned all the soot off the back of the Deli as my dog keeps coming in with a soot streak across his head

Turbo arrived nice and shiny and nicely the wrong freaking one    Despite sending them the turbo part number and them assuring me they had it in stock they sent an oil cooled turbo when mine is water cooled with a completely different part number. I can't doing with all this waiting for responses to emails and returning goods before new ones are sent so........

I decided to take all the new shiny moving bits and put them into my old water cooled turbo centre core. Have just started putting it all back on the truck but ran out of puff today.

Hopefully will have it running at some stage this week or else be standing in a large cloud of blue smoke with soot all over me face  :?

To be continued....

[andyman]

Sill watching, Dave, and you're not the only one frustrated by the incompetence of suppliers. I ordered a second hand starter motor from a specialist MG breakers near Peterborough, gave them engine no. and numbers off the starter motor. They sent me an alternator. I complained, gave them the part no's again, and told them how many teeth on the starter pinion. They sent me a smaller starter, different make, fewer teeth (I'm guessing - off a Rover 214). At the 3rd attempt, they got it right, never asked for the other bits back! Don't despair, you'll get there, although I hope you got your manifold face somewhere near flat - danger of over- stressing it when tightened up and heated by exhaust gases if not flat enough.
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[DaveJ]

[andyman]

So long as it IS 2 forward, and only 1 back! You're going in the right direction. Suspect you'll be sustaining yourself with a lot of tea before it's finished. All nighters are best if you've got a mate for company and help - or at least a radio. Good luck!
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[DaveJ]

Hello all .....again!

So this saga continues. Have now put the new turbo in and it again sounds nice and boosts up to 10 psi. However, it is still very slow to spool up. On the plus side the new turbo (well new bits in old turbo) has stopped the constant blue horrible woft out the tail pipe as it had new seals etc.

The truck is still down on power though - seriously. Every junction is a 'kiss the cross' moment when you try to pull out as the truck just rolls forward so slowly with you bouncing in the seat 'come on come on.....go!!!!!!!!!!'

I keep thinking there is a slight woft in the cab...not a nice smell but you start to think you are imagining things when looking of little wisps of smoke etc. Anyway after a run yesterday to test things i parked up and went inside decidedly depressed with the whole thing. Came out a few hours later and all the internal windows were steamed up...hello?! Never done that before?

I then tested all the hoses manifold and exhaust with soapy water to look for exhaust gas leaks but couldn't really find any....

(Don't ask me why it took me so long to do the next part...) So, whilst standing there scratching me....head I, more by accident really, had one hand on the top hose and rev,d the engine and low and behold the hose really throbbed. So I held it properly and and rev'd again and felt it inflate and go hard as I held it (I know that sounds all wrong!! ). So it goes hard when you rev the engine...oh dear! I think I also now see tiny little wisps of grey smoke (steam) coming out where the head meets the block between numbers 2 and 3.  This all looks a little ominous for the head gasket does it not?

So putting all the pieces together..

Down on power and slow to boost
I real beeatch to start when cold and it then cuts out a few times unless you rev it hard
Lots of white blue and black smoke on startup
Horrible smell from exhaust not just diesel but oily metal burning acrid sting your eyes smell (possibly unburnt diesel + steam?)
Every now and then a slight miss fire followed by a puff of smoke from the exhaust usually white/grey blue colour (unburnt diesel?)
Top hose hardens as you rev the engine in time with the revs
Has had a new (probably 2nd hand but cleaner than the rest of the engine) injection pump fitted December last year

This sort of points to the head gasket to me and the possibility that this was maybe at some stage in its life run on WVO? Hence new injection pump and terrible throat burning, eye watering smell and woft from the exhaust. It is a horrible smell....in fact I am not allowed to start the car before telling the wife so she can ensure all the house doors and windows are shut it smells so bad It is really acrid

Any thoughts from the masses?? new head gasket? Pull the whole engine and open it up to have a look?

I convinced the wife that as the Mitsi is a Japanese car it wouldn't need to be constantly in bits like my Land Rovers were/are (...tip for everyone large cars in bits are so much harder to shift off the drive than those with wheels etc still on). The drive is starting to look like a knackers yard!

Dag Nammit!!!

[andyman]

Hi Dave. Did you sort out the oil leak when you fixed the turbo. Oil dripping onto a hot exhaust gives acrid smells and smoke (Did you see what happened to Mark Webber's car in - was it- Korea?) Is it using water? Mine hasn't used a drop in 3 years, so I assume they shouldn't. I hate conceding that I'm stumped for a fix, but sometimes it's time to dig deep and hand over to a pro who has seen it all many times before. Someone like v8 Rick, or Mark3 will probably point an oily finger at the culprit within 10 minutes of arrival. Never called on their services personally, but their Deli-healing powers are legendary, and they might travel as far as Nottingham - it's not far from anywhere! (well Land's End, The Gower, and John o' Groats excepted!)
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[DaveJ]