V reg Golf TDi poor running

[mistuart]

I am new to this forum so be gental with me.
I have been asked to look at a friends V reg MK4 VW Golf TDi with 104000 miles which when running emits a lot of smoke (grey/white) and the revs at idle fluctuate between 1000 and 800 rpm it is also very noisey and you can hear the engine fluctuating it will drive but the performance is non existant.
It has no engine management lights on and plugging in my Sykes ACR4 code reader again produces no fault codes.
After reading a few posts on this forum thought at first it maybe the MAF meter but dont think the engine would sound so rough.
I have sprayed carb cleaner in the meter but this made no difference.
How reliable are these engines do they ever have a tendancy to damage valves, have head gasket problems or piston ring problems.
I am going to get a diesel compression tester and try to discount them or prove the above problems.
Give me a Citroen problem any day they maybe unrelyable but at least I know how to rectify most faults.
Any help would be apprecated

[shooey88]

is it rattly/noise from the rocker cover? One particular engine on TDI (i think its the AZD engine code) suffers from camshaft problems. few cases where a new camshaft is needed with new lifters as become worn. if you cant find any fault with the MAF obvious place to look first? then advise checking the camshaft as a recommendation.

[mistuart]

Thanks for the advice will have a look at the camshaft/ followers.

[Col]

What engine ?

I assume it is a 90 or 110 not a PD ?

If so look at the needle lift sensor which is part of injector 3.

A dud maf should not cause the problems you are getting.

Also it would be useful to look at some of the measuring blocks with the engine running which might help further diagnose the problem.


Again, what engine ?

[shooey88]

SORRY, the camshaft problem wouldnt assosiate to your vehicle. hastely thought it was a PD diesel. as its an old pump TDI. it would be a waste of time checking camshaft if so. much appologies.

as its an old v r eg TDI ....id check the pump timing if had a cambelt recently etc ...you can check the pump timing using diagnostic equipment. alot of people get the timing wrong when doing a cambelt. the white/grey smoke signals incomplete combustion and not firing correctly of smoothly.

[mistuart]

Took cam cover off and the problem is obvious theres a chunk missing on one of the camshaft lobes and a hole where the valve should be.
How it ever ran I will never know!!
Looks like I am in for a good old dismantling session.
May try and get a salvaged cylinder head assembly but I hope the piston/bores has survived!!
Thanks for everyone who offered advice it did help.

[shooey88]

i was right even even though its not common on those engines