I have a 1996 mazda bravo b2500 turbo diesel. On acceleration on inclines it lacks power. Also hard to start and blows smoke when it does.

bingo for AUSTRALIA
CARS ARE NOT THE SAME WORLD WIDE AT ALL
WE ARE N.AMERICAN.

Petrol engines:
2.2 L F2 I4
2.6 L G6E I4
4.0 L Cologne SOHC V6 (2005-06, Australia)
Diesel engines:
2.5 L WL I4
2.5 L WL-T turbo I4<<<<< this one.
2.9 L W9 I4

SO ASK MAZDA IN YOUR TOWN FOR THE SERVICE MANUAL
THE ARE NONE UP HERE.

MAZDA BRAVO B2600 B2500 PICKUP TRUCK 1996 2009 WORKSHOP SERVICE REPAIR...

for the easy solution download the pdf file

MAZDA BRAVO B2600 B2500 1996 2009 WORKSHOP SERVICE MANUAL

This will surely solve your problem.I got mine solved too.

Mazda B2200, B2500 and B2600 (6th Generation).

In model year 1998, Mazda B series renews its own international markets. Production at the plant AutoAlliance Thailand began in May 1998. This model is also sold as the Ford Ranger in Europe and Asia, and the Ford Courier in Australia and New Zealand. Production started this year in the factories of companies AutoAlliance Thailand and Ford Motor Philippines. Versions CKD are also assembled in South Africa, Ecuador and Colombia.

The van is sold in over 130 countries under a variety of names. Along with the emblems of Fighter and Ranger in Southeast Asia (except Singapore, which served as the flagship models Proceed Japan), was sold as the Mazda Bounty and Ford Courier in New Zealand, Mazda Bravo in Australia, and Mazda Drifter in South Africa.

Engine options:
2.2 L 2.2 L (2.184 cc) 85 hp (63 kW)
2.5 L (1.998 cc) turbo diesel 118 hp (88 kW)
2.6 L (2.606 cc) 121 hp (90 kW)

Fig. Tighten the exhaust manifold bolts in 2 stages

To install:

1. Clean the mating surfaces on the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head.
   
2. Install a new gasket and the exhaust manifold. Torque the bolts in sequence as follows:
   1. 16 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
      
   2. 59 ft. lbs. (80 Nm).

Hope helps.

use a fuel additive to clean fuel lines and injectors,redexe/wynns,one can to 1/2 tank fuel.then see if you need to do any other work.....

diesels are not known to be high revving engines to begin with, anyways, it sounds like your turbo is malfunctioning, get it inspected or repaired

You dont say weather its a petrol or diesel engine as there a slight differance in the answer and if a turbo on a diesel thats even more of a differance, but taking it a petrol .
Well to start with the white smoke Isent smoke its water and after going through the engine it turns into Steam and thats what you see..
Running on 3 clyinders is caused through 1 cylinder isent working as a engine should and has a bad valve or a broken piston ring or more and even a cracked head and gasket letting the water through,,,also the broken ring works like a oil pump as if not firing given you power then it works like a oil pump and pumps it into the cylinder that dosent work only pumping oil into the hot exhaust system while running.CAUSING SMOKE
And if a turbo then could be the turbo bearings worn and pushing oil into the engine and still doing the same as before.
Let me know how you get on. RON

Blowing smoke when starting is not a problem this accours on all diesel engines

I'm assuming that that smoke was more previlant while going uphill because that's when the turbo would be really spolling up to max psi. I would guess that if you really got on the gas hard and got the turbo going even on a flat surface, that you would notice the smoke too. The loss of power and the white/grey smoke are tell tale signs that your turbo is bad or starting to fail. Good luck!

With regards to the above problem, I have just recently experienced the exact same thing with a 98 Mazda Bravo b2500 (this is a diesel).The symptoms were after driving over some corrugated dirt roads the vehicle would not rev over 2000 rpm and at that point would blow heaps of white smoke and misfire, but would idle beautifully and rev smoothly up to the 2000 rpm. Also noticed when vehicle was cold it would drive good for about 5-10 mins then symptoms would start again.

Fuel filters were changed, sediment trap cleaned,different fuel tried and checked all lines and system for air entry, problem still persisted. While checking injector pump lift pump pressure I noticed that the pressure would drop right off at the 2000 rpm, maybe a lift pump problem?? After consulting the workshop manual I found there is a small stainless steel thimble filter under the injector pump fuel line input union bolt, held in place with a small spring. Pulled this out to have a look and it was full of crud, cleaned it all up and put back together and have a guess what......goes like a brand new truck!!

Cheers