2002 Vito advice please - new turbo or new engine!

[mikeLmedic]

Hi

Firstly thanks for all the advice from the forum so for - slowly getting this together!

I have a 2002 vito 110 CDI with 268,000 miles on the clock

Get a large cloud of white smoke when engine is cold on startup and idle is rough. Starts 1st time and drives well. Noticed the mpg is somewhere around 15!

Garage has told me the turbo needs replacing. (No injector leaks)

2nd hand turbo is about £250 fitted a recon turbo is about £400 fitted

Or do I got for a replacement engine and gearbox for about £1000 to preempt other things going wrong!

Any suggestions welcome as I am still new Vitos

 

[Damien O]

I can't see what you would even think about buying an engine and gearbox because you have a possible turbo issue. I work for a van dismantlers and both the engine and gearbox aren't too troublesome.

The biggest problem you're gonna have with the older 638 Vito is rust tbh.

Just buy what you need I say.


Damien

 

[mikeLmedic]

I was looking at an engine etc as mine is so high milage at about 268000. I just wondered if it was worth spending £400 just on a turbo when for £1000 I could replace the whole lot with something under 100,000 miles engine & gearbox. I guess that could still go wrong hence why I was after advice

 

[joecash]

cant u just whip the turbo off and get it tested? they normally only charge about £15 for checking a turbo and actuator at a turbo specialist, thats if u really feel there is a problem with it? - understand why your flipping the coin in the air though - mind u a power train change out wont be cheap unless u have the facilities to do it

 

[StMarks]

It's always going to be a gamble, what ever you decide.

Fwiw I agree with the above, invest in what you have instead of buying something that may be no better.

My 110cdi has only got 110k on the clock & the engine is stuffed !!
(you can read about it if you're interested) http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/144097-vito-110cdi-tapping-sound.html

 

[Damien O]

Just be wary of stated miles unless you know the van. That van finished production in late 2003 so any engine will be at least 10 years old.
The Sprinter & later model Vito & Sprinter CDi engines will fit (with a few changes) but they nearly always demand higher money.

If you want my advice & you plan on keeping the van for a while, go for a recon turbo. They normally come with a 12 month warranty. Get whoever is fitting it to flush the engine completely including oil feed & return pipes for the turbo, the intercooler, and associated induction pipes. Clean the sump etc out. New oil & filters all round. Then when you're back on the road, do another oil change at about 1k so any gunk that may remain is removed. The service your van every 6k. ( Will cost you £50 & you can do it yourself). Keep all receipts for service parts so if the turbo does fail within the 12 month warranty cover you have proof it has been serviced etc. The biggest cause in turbo failure is oil contanination or oil starvation cause by contamination blocking an oil way etc.



Hope this helps

Damien

 

[pawnie]

vito turbo | eBay

Not looked for mileage on these but lot cheaper on a few of them. Second hand bits carry a risk as we know.

 

[Danny DeVito]

What can cause white smoke from the exhaust

This man has a little to say about white smoke.... He doesn't mention turbo though

 

[mikeLmedic]

cheers for the info guys - love the way the van drives but things keep going wrong - might have to sell it and buy an newer one!

 

[Dieselman]

Get a compression test performed, then decide.

I would agree with Damien but the rough idle bothers me, having said that an air leak into the diesel pipes will give white smoke and rough running so worth checking.

 

[Damien O]

I'm just reading through the OP's first post. White smoke on start up.... not to throw another spanner in the works but a failed headgasket leaking water into a cylinder overnight would cause those symptoms.

 

[CapnCol]

I don't agree with Danny Devito's link as some of the things are plain wrong and some apply to petrol engines.
Does the white exhaust smoke smell of diesel? If so, it is unburnt diesel, ie a mis fire which would explain the lumpy running.
This is usually caused by faulty injector or low compression. If one of the injectors is "hosing" it doesn't atomize the fuel sufficiently to start combustion, but when engine speed and temp come up it will burn (of sorts)
Low compression won't get cylinder temp up high enough to initiate combustion, but as engine warms up it will start to combust (unless you have no compression in which case it will stay misfiring and smoky even when warm)
Compression test or injector test- your choice.

 

[mikeLmedic]

so as well as the turbo the other options could be a misfire - leaky injector - leaky head gasket - faulty injector?

I will have a chat with the garage as the van is currently there for a replacement worn bushing.

 

[CapnCol]

Low compression could be caused by tight valve clearance, burnt valve, worn / stuck / broken piston rings, or a failed head gasket. At that mileage it could be any of the above or a faulty injector.

 

[E270 Owner]

Hi

Firstly thanks for all the advice from the forum so for - slowly getting this together!

I have a 2002 vito 110 CDI with 268,000 miles on the clock

Get a large cloud of white smoke when engine is cold on startup and idle is rough. Starts 1st time and drives well. Noticed the mpg is somewhere around 15!

Garage has told me the turbo needs replacing. (No injector leaks)

2nd hand turbo is about £250 fitted a recon turbo is about £400 fitted

Or do I got for a replacement engine and gearbox for about £1000 to preempt other things going wrong!

Any suggestions welcome as I am still new Vitos

Reset the mpg trip meter once the vans warm and running normally.

If you are getting @ 25-28 mixed urban/motorway try the following.

Replace the glow plugs.

If that dont cure it get a Star diagnosis done on a cold start cycle.

 

[Satch]

White smoke can come about thanks to of a number of possible miseries.

Diesel Engine Smoke Explained - United Diesel, Shropshire

Absolutely sure it is the turbo?

 

[mikeLmedic]

I know there is a fault with the turbo as the waste gate was cable tied open and if you remove the cable tie the engine management put the van in limp mode. i am only going on what the garage have said about the white smoke.

Is there any way to effectively turn the turbo off without the engine management playing you? My wife only uses the van around town collecting dogs to walk so its not an issue but might save the cost of replacing it.