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Lister SR2


John89

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Hi everyone,

In the 6 months I've been boating my old Lister SR2 has been kicking out smoke of a blue-ish white, that doesn't clear no matter how long she's running. I've been told by several engineers that 'it's an old Lister, that's what they do', and while that might be the case, standing in a fuel-y blue cloud anytime I need to run the engine isn't really very fun, and I'd like to do what I can to reduce the smoke and more importantly really understand the issue. I know that white smoke indicates unburnt fuel, and blue indicates that I'm burning oil.

She starts with no problem, and doesn't misfire, but on turning one decompression lever it's clear one of the cylinders is not doing the business. Furthermore, I've noticed when checking the dipstick that the oil level creeps up, suggesting diesel is getting into the oil. I've been going though Richard's troubleshooting guide that i found on here, and have taken the rocker covers off as well as the side plate that houses the injector pumps, hoping to find an obvious leak (no engineer has done these checks). There's a bit of splashing to the bottom right as you look at the exposed crankcase, but it's hard to tell where it's coming from (injector pump?). I checked the banjo bolts, bleed screws but nothing is obviously leaking/loose. I'm really hoping someone will be able to take a look and try to diagnose what's happening.

I realise it could be as simple as a faulty/clogged injector, and this would possibly explain both the compression problem I'm having, and the fuel leak. Any help AT ALL appreciated.

Thanks!

John
 

 

Edited by John89
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Welcome to the forum. SR2's sound great and have the reputation of going on for ever. There are members on here who will be familiar with them, and at least one member who is a Lister specialist, so I'm sure that you'll get some helpful suggestions.

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The first thing to sort is the diesel leak. Tie a piece of tissue paper round every joint in the engine fuel system.  Run it in gear ( and going along if possible) for 30 minutes.  Look at the tissues as soon as you stop. Expect one or more to be stained red by diesel.  These are your leaks.  Renew (or anneal if copper)  the sealing washers.  Repeat run with tissues.

Once you have sorted the leaks, look at the injectors.  Either get them checked by a specialist, or, first, remove one from the head and refasten it to its pipe pointing away from the head, and away from you. Flip the other cylinder decompression. Turn the engine over on the starter.  Look at the spray pattern from the injector.  It should be even, no streaks and no dribbles.  If not get the injector serviced.  Repeat for the other injector.

 

Any blue smoke caused by oil burning is likely to be valve guides, rings or bore wear.  Only a top end strip down will tell.

 

N

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Thanks Athy! 🙂

BEngo, thanks for the suggestions, I'll do a test with tissues now. 

I'm up for having a look at the injectors before getting them checked, I recall coming across a guide to remove them but can't find it now. If you happen to know where one lives i'd appreciate it

Cheers

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It is ages since I looked at the Operators Manual, but I am pretty sure it is in there.  Otherwise it is a case of removing the rocker covers, and the side panel then disconnect the main pipe and leak off pipes top and bottom them remove the pipes before removing the two nuts and bridge piece at the injector. Pull  the injector out, making sure you also get all the washers that are down the hole.  Ideally you want to renew the copper sealing washer but it can be annealed and reused if it is in good order otherwise.

Refit in reverse of removal.

 

N

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49 minutes ago, John89 said:

I know that white smoke indicates unburnt fuel, and blue indicates that I'm burning oil.

I was taught (by Listers) that white smoke points towards water in the fuel (think steam).

Black smoke, unburnt fuel and blue can indicate oil.  Although blue can also be the outcome of prolonged running in neutral merely to charge batteries  or short runs not allowing the engine to get up to operating temperature.  

58 minutes ago, John89 said:

a faulty/clogged injector, and this would possibly explain both the compression problem I'm having

I'd be interested in hearing the theory behind this assumption.

 

I suggest you get it appraised by an engineer, especially as you think you're leaking fuel internally.

It's time to stop guessing or listening to "Chap down the pub", you're getting close to laying spanners on it. 

Whereas it's great to have a go and learn about your engine, it's also important not to fix something until you further damage it.

 

Good luck.

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6 minutes ago, zenataomm said:

'd be interested in hearing the theory behind this assumption.

 

I doubt clogged, but if the injector is jetting rather than atomizing the fuel it won't all be burned so will produce black smoke (carbon) mixed with white smoke (vaporized fuel) and that could look blueish. Depending upon how diluted the oil is it could be passing a lot down the valve guides and piston rings. In my view the urgent job is to sort the dilution before the engine runs away.

  • Greenie 2
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26 minutes ago, zenataomm said:

I suggest you get it appraised by an engineer, especially as you think you're leaking fuel internally.

It's time to stop guessing or listening to "Chap down the pub", you're getting close to laying spanners on it. 

Whereas it's great to have a go and learn about your engine, it's also important not to fix something until you further damage it.

 

Agreed, all I actually want is for someone to come to look, tell me the issue, quote me for a solution, even if that's a ££££ engine rebuild, at least I'd know. So far I've paid 3 engineers to tell me it might be things but not actually be able to offer fixes.

 

I don't want to go poking around or make things worse, but if the problem does seem to be coming from an injector, at least then I can take them to a specialist. I'd anyone knows any London based engineers willing to have look I'd be grateful.

 

Thanks all

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57 minutes ago, John89 said:

 

Agreed, all I actually want is for someone to come to look, tell me the issue, quote me for a solution, even if that's a ££££ engine rebuild, at least I'd know. So far I've paid 3 engineers to tell me it might be things but not actually be able to offer fixes.

 

I don't want to go poking around or make things worse, but if the problem does seem to be coming from an injector, at least then I can take them to a specialist. I'd anyone knows any London based engineers willing to have look I'd be grateful.

 

Thanks all

Move north pal, the engineers are better up here.

 

London is a rip off society of know it alls who do nothing.

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2 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said:

Move north pal, the engineers are better up here.

 

London is a rip off society of know it alls who do nothing.

And the great beauty of a boa,t is ya can leave the shit hole, London behind, with ease ;)

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Every time that my oil level has risen, it's been an almost invisible break in the leak off pipe. I know there are a load of other possible causes, but a new leakoff is about sixty quid and easy enough to fit. My SR2 has had four in thirty years, though the last but one was due to a fitting error and bust in a fortnight.

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59 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

Every time that my oil level has risen, it's been an almost invisible break in the leak off pipe. I know there are a load of other possible causes, but a new leakoff is about sixty quid and easy enough to fit. My SR2 has had four in thirty years, though the last but one was due to a fitting error and bust in a fortnight.

Thanks Arthur, I saw you were having similar issues some years ago! I'll have a look at the leak off pipe

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Never stop a Lister diesel (or any other) with the compression release..........always use the stopping lever on the pump..................stopping with the compression release fills the motor with diesel....and can break the rocker cover as well.

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12 hours ago, John89 said:

 

Not with diesel leaking into my fuel 😅

I just marked the dipstick. When the level rose by half an inch I pumped a couple of litres out until it showed minimum and put more in (there's only about half a litre between the marks). After three times I did a complete oil change.

Mine only got too thin once, engine overheated hugely and just stopped. Unfortunately I was in the Harecastle tunnel at the time.

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