Smokey starts, plus egr open position

[carbs1981]

Hi, i'm hoping for two answers out of one post here as hopefully the problem i have is related. (I've got a 2002 2.0d mazda 6)

Firstly i've been getting quite a lot of white smoke on a cold start up (seems to be getting worse as the weeks go by). I've checked the glow plugs and as 2 of them were dud i replaced them. I've done a service which included all the filters and an engine oil flush, replaced the oil with 5w 30 oil like the owners manual recommends, and also used a fuel additive to clean the injectors.
After all this i'm still getting a smokey start.

A mechanic mate of mine said that the problem could lie with the egr valve as they commonly become faulty so this afternoon i've taken the egr valve off and given it a bloody good clean as it was rather coked up. To me the egr valve seems ok, but i will be the first to admit i'm no mechanic. By pushing something solid on the bottom of the valve it moves up and down providing i apply quite a bit of pressure.

Now i've put it all back together i have noticed the valve never seems to be open which now leads me to my other question, when should the valve open? with the engine turned off the valve is closed, with the engine running the valve is closed, applying a few revs the valve is closed. Does this show signs of a problem or does it only open when the car is in gear and actually driving.

I'm hoping that this is related to my smokey starts but any answers would be greatly appreciated.
I appologise for the long thread.

[postbus24]

QUOTE (carbs1981 @ Oct 24 2009, 08:16 AM)

Hi, i'm hoping for two answers out of one post here as hopefully the problem i have is related. (I've got a 2002 2.0d mazda 6)

Firstly i've been getting quite a lot of white smoke on a cold start up (seems to be getting worse as the weeks go by). I've checked the glow plugs and as 2 of them were dud i replaced them....[/b]

I think its better to replace them all since they are the same age.
If there is a problem with the egr valve, a lights pop's up on your dash board and black smoke should come out

But if you are not convinced, you can build yourself a gasket from a can of coca cola (fanta will do as well) and install it between your intake and egr valve so it is immobilised. That does no harm and if your previous problems are gone they it might be due to this valve after all.