G1800 Smoking and dead cylinder

[NickJD300]

Good afternoon,

I purchased this G1800 about a month ago based on the fact the engine ran great.
1000 hours.
Previous owner was hard on it honestly.
I began fixing things like the mower deck wheels and purchased filters etc.

Then all of the sudden it quit running on one cylinder and started smoking.
I had taken the air filter out to clean it and when I started it to move it into the garage without the air filter in it, it started smoking like crazy. The smoke appears to be blue and I included a photo.
Ill also say that at that same time, I added about 3 cups of coolant to the overflow canister.
I have tried running it with the air filter, changed the injectors from cylinder 1 (the dead cylinder) to cylinder 2, also changed the injector pump mechanism from cylinder 1 to 2.
I installed new fuel filters. I am not getting any bubbling at the radiator cap. The oil level appears to be rising slightly.

Does anyone have any suggestions or checks before I tear the head off of this thing? I am about to buy a compression tester for diesels this afternoon.

 

[Tinhack]

The smoke looks white from here. Which would occur if a cylinder was not firing. That might also explain the increase in oil level--The crankcase is filling with diesel.

My best guess at the moment would be a valve on the dead cylinder. Pull the rocker cover and see if the valves are moving. If they are, then it's probably a burned valve.

 

[NickJD300]

Thanks for the suggestion!
It could be white. I took of the rocker cover and confirmed the valves are moving.
The pressure tester I bought did not fit the injector or glow plug port.
I have changed the oil today to monitor the oil level. No metal in the oil.
If anyone has any further ideas or suggestions, let me know.

 

[Tinhack]

Shouldn't have changed the oil yet. It's not fixed! Don't run it like that.

While you have the cover off, check the valve lash. A burned valve will mostly likely be tight. (They accumulate carbon under the seat.)
EDIT- I should have said exceptionally loose. Carbon under the valve keeps it from seating making the clearance measure huge.

The other possibilities are a broken ring or a broken rod. (I have one of those 3-bangers here with a broken rod.) The next step is to pull the oil pan and see if all the rods/pistons are still intact. Look up inside and make sure none of the pistons are cracked. Check the cylinder walls for scoring.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Probably sucked a bunch of dirt into engine because you ran it with out an air filter. Most likely broke a ring or scared cylinder

 

[BravoXray]

Did you try swapping the injector on the dead cylinder to a different one?

 

[NickJD300]

Thanks for all the input here guys.
Bravo - I did try swapping the injector - and that is a great suggestion in this type of situation.
Powerstroke - I do not believe it sucked in a bunch of dirt when I moved it 20 yards without the filter but you do have a valid point.
Tinhack - The valve lash on the dead cylinder was within spec on the intake. All 3 cylinders were loose on the exhaust ~.014
The factory spec for valve clearance on intake and exhaust is .0057 to .0073 inches.

Compression readings are 150 on the dead cylinder, and 250 each on the others. I welded a gutted glow plug to a nozzle that fit my compression tester.
When I take an air nozzle and inflate the cylinders, I can see and hear bubbling oil around the valve springs.

I will move forward with getting the valves to seal and a new head gasket. Let me know any thoughts or suggestions that you have.

 

[NickJD300]

Well - theres my problem.
Still gonna lap the valves in and replace the head gasket. Not too sure how accurate my compression tester is.
Thanks all, for your time.
Anyways.. onward.

 

[jonsstihl]

enlighten us. looks like it sucked a rag into the intake but what is that part with the rag in it.

 

[westcliffe01]

Where the heck did the rag come from ???? Did the OP stuff it into the intake to protect it while the air filter was out and forget about it ?

If airflow into the cylinder is restricted, then the compression test will be low because the engine wont get a cylinder full of air to compress.