Hey guys I posted this originally in the desiel section but it's quiet over there

I'm going to look at a 2004 X-Type 2.0 Desiel Sport Estate in a few hours. Basically the seller is a trader who took the car as part exchange, it smokes black/blue for a short while and is lumpy on cold start. Apparently then it runs normally but that's only what he's telling me over the phone so who knows if that's the full story...

It's a 2004 X-Type 2.0D Sport Estate with 100K miles on the clock. I'm thinking it's either the EGR or injectors, he said the engine runs great apart from that so if there's no ugly nosies I'm assuming it can't be anything too serious? I'm thinking block off the EGR, clean the injectors, give her a good service and that will hopefully sort it out.

What do you guys think?

Thank you

 

The internet is littered with stories of smoking diesel X-Types. Unfortunately simple solutions aren't so frequent but there's several good reports of TerraDiesel treatment proving successful.

You need to be certain this smoking is only happening on startup and soon clears. Be suspicious if the engine is warm when you arrive.

If it does clear and the engine then runs smoothly and quietly, I'd agree with your theory there can't be anything too serious.

It does give you some leverage on price but, on an eight year old vehicle with 100K miles, there's always going to be an element of risk. Don't let the smoking issue divert your attention from checking all switches and controls function properly.

Good luck.

Graham

 

Cheers Graham, I agree - it's certainly going to be viewed with my sensible hat on that's for sure!

Here's the car: Jaguar X-Type 2.0D SPORT 5DR 1/2 LEATHER AIR-CON ALLOYS PDC 2004

It looks good, but like you said there's a lot to be aware of.

 

Just a note, everyone selling a used car will always tell you its just fine and nothing is wrong with it, because they want to get rid of it and get something else, its as much as a gamble as going to a casino and playing slots. I had someone tell me a car was just fine and in perfect running condition and the car would not even go into gear to drive to take it on a test drive. If you really want to know what kind of running order the car is in, you need to either drive it for 3 days solid or take it to a mechanic familiar with the car and get a diagnostics ran on it to see what sort of issues it could potentially have.

 

and btw, I took someones word, and now im paying $6k US for a new motor 6 months after purchase. When there were no signs of mechanical problems when I bought it, but I didn't have a diagnostics check on it either. the car was taken care of perfectly, exterior, interior, but in this case the motor wasn't.

 

We don't see the Diesels in the US (fuel mileage is too good, the oil companies just won't stand for it!!) so I was wondering, do the Diesels have glow plugs to aid in cold starting? If they do and that preheat cycle is not working correctly, I'd think that could lead to incomplete burning on startup until the combustion chambers come up to temperature.

 

Good luck stashio. I have just bought an x type diesel with 99,000 on the clock, and have had the dreaded fuel pump failure within 3 weeks of me owning it so factor that into your calculations. There is little warning that it is failing....

If it takes the injectors with it you are looking at a bill just shy of £2000 like me! The Diesel specialists it is with at the moment reckon that these pumps have a normal useful life of 120,000, but they have seen them go at 50,000. Just try and knock the price back as much as possible so you have some money in the kitty (sic) to pay for this should it happen...