Hi Iv got a 2007 tdv8 with 49k miles
Problem is when starting from cold grey smoke from 1 exhaust and running lumpy give it a few minuets and it's fine
Any ideas anyone ?

Possible glow plug issue? Smoke and lumpy due to inefficient ignition when cold but once warm will be fine. Code reader best way forward.

Sounds like egr problem

Might be, but if it is only when starting from cold, I would look at glow plugs first. Sounds like one or two have fallen over and you are getting no heat in those cylinders, causing unburnt diesel to be exhausted.

I do not know how accessible they are on the V8, but they can be tested in situ with an ohms meter. Probably best to change the full set though, because once one has failed, others tend to follow suit. Not necessarily a job for a dealer. Any sensible independent could do it if you are not doing it yourself.

I seem to remember reading that the glow plugs are prone to seizing in the head. As they are fairly fragile beasties, it's not then unusual for them to snap requiring major work to remove them. Which is annoying because they're fairly cheap items otherwise.

For example:
http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic34143.html 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Yes, I read that too. It may well be true. If only the engine builders at Ford used a little bit of copper grease on them instead of screwing them in bone dry, there would be no such problems. And less revenue for service departments probably.

If it was glow plugs would it do it every time?
Started up this morning and no smoke and not lumpy at all
Started up tonight after work and smoking again

It is difficult to say. It is the sort of fault that is temperature dependent. On the warm days we are having you might get away with a few duff glow plugs, but in cold weather the engine will definitely have trouble starting. I would expect you to have trouble when starting the engine from stone cold, but possibly not throughout the day.

In effect what is happening is the engine is only running on the cylinders where the plugs are working and unburnt diesel is emitted from the faulty cylinders, until the engine gets warm enough or spins fast enough for all cylinders to chime in.

If the misfire ad smoke persisted, it might be EGR valve trouble as others have mentioned. But if it is brief, after cold start, I would suspect the glow plugs first.

IMO The best first thing to do, would be to get the codes etc checked, either at a LR dealer or by yourself if you have a GAP IID BT unit, this can at least stop you wasting money on things that might be fine. John

RRS MY12 SDV6 HSE. Sumatra Black/Ebony & Walnut + Dynamic Pack, + Cold Climate Pack + Memory Pack, Digital TV/DVD, Premium Leather, Cornering Lights, Cooler/Fridge Box, & most Options.

No smoke or lumpy this morning or this evening
Spoke to Harwoods £150+ vat to read the codes , spoke to an independent and said maybe a sticky injector

Had the codes read today and no faults

Johnsurrey wrote:

No smoke or lumpy this morning or this evening
Spoke to Harwoods £150+ vat to read the codes , spoke to an independent and said maybe a sticky injector

Daylight robbery charge for reading codes! I bought my own reader for half that price! Not as good as a GAP IID BT but just shows how they make their money  Visitor from fullfatrr.com
* GONE. 2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Now being piloted by RRSTDV8
* Current: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* Current. 1974 Lightweight 2.25L petrol. Old skool
* GONE. Freelander GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* GONE. Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

I had similar symptoms as you in the winter and I suspected it was a glow plug issue. I got round it by cycling the ignition twice before starting the engine, giving the glow plugs more time to heat.

I take it you are waiting for the glow plug light to go out before starting?

Didn't go to a dealer , a mates got a garage so he done it for me
Yeah always wait for the light to go out

I fancy that your problem is the glow plugs then, which I suspect have no on-board diagnostics. So no fault code. They are just a coil of resistor wire switched by a timed relay, at the end of the day.