Hi, got a London Taxi and there are plenty of problems with it and i want to try and get it in a better state (i didn't buy it, its just been not used for ages and im interested in getting it going again). It's an LTi Fairway Driver 1994. It also rolls coal quite badly but it's not a huge issue and has done th As you can see by the title, it does put out white smoke occasionally, and usually only when on full kickdown for an extended amount of time, and then it goes back to it's black billowing smoke. It's only for like a second and if you let off gas then it stops. List of other issues that may have something to do with it: >Previously didn't really have a radiator, had lots of holes but we kept stopping and topping it up, headgasket might have got too hot and broke >Water pump is weak, sure the new radiator gets piping hot all over, but the heater matrix doesn't get hot unless you give it enough revs. >It might be burning oil, it does have 260K miles. >Radiator fan doesnt work (viscous fan, is part of water pump assembly, i should probably replace waterpump!) What is a mystery is why does it only happen sometimes? I'd love to check coolant level but the coolant bottle seems to have no markings on it that i can see (probably caked in dust / muck). I should probably check the oil as well, but i know its not alarmingly low. Engine seems pretty healthy, no death rattles, just lots of black smoke (running wayy too rich, probably would be a good idea to turn down injector pump) and it's not a powerful engine, 83hp. Would the rolling coal make the engine put out extra heat? It seems to get quite hot for an 83hp diesel! I am thinking of getting new water pump for it, but if the headgasket and maybe cracked block and etc etc i really don't want to be pouring money away Any ideas?
Losing oil, plus white smoke in exhaust. I'd suspect head gasket or cracked block, may not rear it's head until high cylinder pressures occur at wide open throttle/full boost (if applicable) --- Post updated --- Heater matrix being cold means there's likely an air bubble trapped in it, needs bleeding
I think it might be head gasket.. arr what do i do.. I think weak waterpump, as with extended thrashing it can get really quite warm, but normal driving its just not enough flow. In anycase it would have to be replaced (but i do see your point about air in the system, kind of like a central heating rad ).
Heater matrix Air in the system is a notorious problem on those vehicles you know, and on Subaru's. Water pump cannot cause water to enter your exhaust (your white steam) or the heater matrix to fail yet rest of cooling system to function correctly.
