White/blue smoke is usually the result of incomplete diesel fuel combustion, rather than the black smoke that is the result of excess fuel. Old diesel engines used to be bad for this, but modern Diesels are tuned electronically to advance injector timing and increase pilot fuel volume to compensate.
As mentioned above, incomplete combustion can come from poor glowplug operation when the engine is first started from cold. This is especially true if the symptoms clear after the engine speed has been increased for a few seconds (increased in-cylinder temperature overcomes lack of glowplug operation on that cylinder)
There are loads of reasons why a very modern Diesel is more sensitive to white/blue smoke than, say, a Diesel from the early 2000's. Because FL2 has to go through EU4+ emissions testing, there will be some glowplug "afterglow" necessary to mitigate a retarded injection timing, used to limit the NOx emissions of the engine during the very early phases of the emissions test cycle. If the MAF is slightly out of calibration, or the EGR valve control is not quite perfect, then white/blue smoke can occur for a minute or two after starting. This is because the airflow will be operating right at the limit of stable combustion (low airflow), and any error will push the engine to only partly burn the fuel that is injected. The man who makes his living fixing Landrovers will never go hungry.

That makes a lot of sense, mine does that occasionally, when it hasn't been used for a couple of days and the weather is pretty cool, I will start it, she will run rough for a couple of seconds and have little bit of blue smoke. A dab on throttle sorts it out, almost like she is clearing her throat.

Then she runs as sweat as a nut with no smoke.

So could this be the glow plugs starting to break down? Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Might be worth checking that the wiring to the glow-plugs is indicating some sort of voltage before & after the start. It is likely that just one of the plugs is going a bit "lazy", but I wouldn't rule out a faulty glowplug control relay or associated wiring.

If the coolant temperature sensor has drifted, this can give a similar symptom (wrong start parameters for a cold-start at any given ambient temperature = wrong timing / wrong fuel injected during start / wrong glow control time), but in my experience, these sensors typically fail in a dramatic way i.e go duff completely. The man who makes his living fixing Landrovers will never go hungry.

Stratstone are collecting my car tomorrow morning to investigate. I will report back when they are done with it. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I thought blue smoke on a turbo diesel is the first signs of the turbo on its way out ?

Stratstone are coming for the car next Thursday now due to misinformation by one of their guys. He told me they only do courtesy cars if I take the car to Nottingham myself but they do a pickup and drop off service same day. I thought this was odd cos they have delivered me a courtesy car before.

Manager rang on Tuesday and said they may need to keep the car overnight to see what it's like starting up first thing in the morning and didn't want to inconvenience me. So next Thursday they will collect and leave me a courtesy car.

It will be interesting to see what they find. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

chrisuk wrote:

I thought blue smoke on a turbo diesel is the first signs of the turbo on its way out ?

Got the car back today and they couldn't find anything wrong. They said it was probably just a passing problem and I must admit it hasn't done it recently. That said, the oil was getting a bit low so they topped it up and it's 2nd service is due at the end of April anyway. Good customer service as ever from them  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

If theres a puff of blue smoke on start up then a small amount of oil is geting into the combustion chambers. This would be normal on a high millage engine as over time the cylinder bores start to slightly become oval from the constant movement on opposing sides from the up and down stroke produced from the crankshaft and transfered to the piston via the connecting rod
On a newish engine its unlikely to be slipping past the oil scrapper ring fitted to each piston. There are a few ways that oil can enter the combustion chamber weather it slipping past the oil scrapers, leaking head gasket, turbo seal or egr valve etc etc.
Its worth getting it checked out though. You would need to be more worried if while at speed you have a big smoke screen behind you then things are very serious.

My freelander 2 2010 has this problem only when it has been standing and is cold. It takes 5-10 seconds to start turning over then after about 4-5 cranks it starts and blows blue smoke but then clears immediatly and is fine until the next time under the same circumstances ,it runs perfectly I'm getting 32-38 mpg. It's only after it's been standing and is stone cold. It has 61,000 miles on has just has major service and it still does it. Am I right in thinking that it's the glow plugs? If so will it cause any damage if I leave it as I've just had to fork out for MOT, service and discs etc allround!

Any help would be great thanks

Probably is the glow plugs, had them changed on my 07 FL2 (129K Km/80K Miles) by LR garage over here in CH about 2 months ago, starting is much, much better even with some of the very low temperatures we've been getting of late.
But I have to say that it does still has a bad "cough" once in while at start up (only when very cold) with a bit blue smoke which does clear almost immediately.
Good luck getting them changed and I'm sure it won't cost anything like as much in the Durham as it did in CH!

mdpslm

Thanks for that I have booked it in for this coming Monday so will hopefully get to know one way or the other.

I defiantly hope it is cheaper here than there!

Right glow plugs changed £140 still got the blue smoke on start up! But does start better and runs better when cold less lumpy
Now I've noticed a small amount of oil coming from crank case breather hose at the top rear of the engine! Will have to keep an eye. Very small and no noticeable loss of oil.

Blue smoke is oil being burnt, white smoke which under the cicumstances of faulty Glow Plugs will be unburnt fuel.