DanielHitch

Thank you all very much for the help, it's greatly appreciated. No the cloth didn't smell of diesel just of regular old exhausty smell. Ok, great I'll see what happens after a bit of injector work, cheers

So I've held the cloth over exhaust it is neither wet nor does it smell of burning oil. Also in the course of travelling 15 miles or so up the Thames the oil remains in the same spot on the dipstick. We were told by the previous owner that he thought the piston rings were worn but i thought it best to check some other options before going in guns blazing. So check glow plugs, service injectors and if it still smokes start putting some overtime in?!

Ok thank you, I'll get the rag out fire up old smokey when I get in tonight

Hey guys, my partner and i purchased a 50ft narrowboat with a BMC 1.8 engine in it, it's had the valves recently replaced along with the head gasket and timing chain. She starts easily and runs just fine however kicks out a whole lot of white smoke at start up, it lasts about 15-20 minutes. once we are under way and she's up to temperature the smoke is no more. Any ideas of what this could be/how i could remedy this before blinding any more towpath users? Thanks