2003 D2 wont start
 

I'm hoping for some advise on getting my 2003 Discovery 2 to start. I bought my D2 a few months ago 174,000 miles. When it starts it kicks out a lot of black soot at start up and while it's warming up, always goes away quickly. I had gotten into the habit of reaving the engine way up to get the soot to kick out. One morning I reeved the engine way up as usual then the RPM's dropped way down, it sputtered a bit then died. I haven't been able to start it since. I replaced the crank shaft sensor, no dice. I checked the fuel pump, its working fine. The engine cranks like a champ and occasionally i can get a puff, puff sputter, but thats it? It feels like it wants to start when it sputters, but then nothing? I checked all the fuses and relays, all good. Looks like the last owner replaced the spark plugs and plug cables very recently, but is it possible the plugs got clogged and just need to be cleaned or replaced? I have tried starter fluid, also no luck. But it does puff / sputter a bit more after using the starter fluid/ Please help!

I'd pull a plug and inspect them. The soot kicking out may have fouled your plugs.

Also do you have an SES light or any active codes?

What is the SES light? I don't have a reader but i could go rent one from the parts store. the fuel pump is defiantly priming, could the pump be half working?

Did you check to see if you have spark? And like mentioned above, check fuel pressure with gauge.

​​​​​​​ Brian.

ok ill start with checking for a spark and get back to you

SES = Service Engine Soon, it blinks with a misfire. I'd be surprised with the problems you indicated that you had no dash warning lights.

if the previous owner pulled or covered the bulb for the ses light then you won't see it. yes, this is not uncommon.
confirm that the ses light (top left corner of the instrument panel; orange in colour) lights up when you turn the key but before you try to start the engine.

Okay so the the SES light is on (always) and it does flash sometimes when I first start to drive. I checked the fuel pump, it works fine. I pulled the spark plugs and they were clogged with soot. I replace all 8 plugs and to my joyful surprise it started right up............I drove it a few blocks and the oil light starts flashing which I thought was strange because the oil level was fine before I started it. Car then died? I checked the oil and it was basically empty, but no serious leak or oil dump visible, no crazy purple smoke, but lots of black smoke ( kinda as usual). I filled the oil and it started right up again. drove it a block and parked it and the oil disappeared again? it starts but sounds awful and fires all strange, barley stays running and dies, but will restart with oil. sounds like my new plugs are getting clogged again. something terrible is obviously wrong, where is all the oil going?

The flashing SES indicates an active misfire. You've got to be burning the oil if you're losing it and it's not on the ground. That seems like a crazy amount though. If you have problems at startup, it's likely the valve guide seals are allowing oil to get into the cylinders which is causing the carbon build-up on the plugs and the black smoke.

What oil are you using?

You bought it a few months ago at 174k miles, do you know the service history? Have HGs or other head work been done in the recent past?