Symptoms
Blue or black smoke, low compression, oil consumption, knocking under load.
Likely cause
The 19J is known for piston and bearing wear, worn turbo seals and running hot.
Suggested fixes
Listed roughly in the order most owners try them.
- 1
Compression test and turbo inspection
Low compression on all cylinders points to ring wear. Blue smoke with good compression points to the turbo.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate DIY
- Cost:
- £ (Under about £50 in parts)
- 2
Rebuild the engine
A full rebuild with new pistons, bearings and liners.
- Difficulty:
- Specialist job
- Cost:
- £££ (Over about £300)
- 3
Convert to a 200Tdi or 300Tdi
A very popular upgrade with conversion kits available.
- Difficulty:
- Specialist job
- Cost:
- £££ (Over about £300)
This is general guidance gathered from owner experience and workshop practice, not a substitute for a workshop manual or a qualified mechanic. Costs are rough parts-only guides. Brakes, steering and suspension work affects safety, so if in doubt have it checked professionally.
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