smoke under load

[uglyboatman]

1.6d


Hi,

had a problem for a while with smoke when the van (1.6 diesel) is underload say up a hill in 3rd.

Had a friend follow me today and check out the exhaust while i was driving, he says its dark / black smoke that appears when i accelerate, its ok on the flat just cruising. Pretty much there all the time up a steep hill. He said the smoke wasnt thick, more like a mist, i can still see the cars behind me through it but there is def clouds of smoke when i look in the mirror.

He says he could also smell the odd waft of deisel.

The van also has a problem starting when left for a while, im not sure if this is related.

I found some checks to do so have been goign through them

took the dipstick out to check if any escaping fumes or any pressure in crankcase, none at all. No emulsion stuff on the stick

Recent new air filter & fuel filter

glow plugs taken out and tested - ok - glow circuit relay etc checked ok


The engine idles great - doesnt sound out in anyway


Could the problem with the smoke be the injectors ? if so how can i test injectors or do i have to take them somewhere.....or is a case of new ones. Would a compression test help diagnose things ?

Im hoping the starting problem is connected with the smoke prob!

Any thoughts appreciated


Cheers

[TD]

well in my experience , my engine puts out 'smoke' when under load, it is most visible at night. It shouldbe pretty light though and not a visle black cloud following you. What about mpg, this would suffer . have you had recent MOT?, that would tell soon enough.
there are usually three types of smoke
Black = diesel , poor timing dirty injectors
Blue = burning engine oil by worn rings/bores
White= head cracked/gasket leaks.
which do you want?,
sounds pretty normal if it is only under load and light mist.
stopp worrying until something horrioble happens( it will)

[Louey]

Never sure if 'injector cleaner' products are any good, but if so then stick a bit in and change your fuel filter if it hasn't been done for 3000 miles.

As TD says the colour of smoke mentioned sounds like diesel. Has it had regular servicing and has the Timing belt been changed at correct intervals. As for poor starting, do you use the cold start lever/button thingy, and does it work???? It could be stuck on (even a liitle) and burning a bit more diesel than you want. Could be complete tosh as I'm no expert.

[uglyboatman]

cheers,

forgot to mention, i did try some injector cleaner fluid and it didnt seem to make much difference. The smoke is def more noticable at night, through headlights etc.

I always use the cold start handle, but thats an interesting point about it sticking, thats one thing to look into.

Would failing injectors also cause problems with starting ? The timing belt has been on for over a year & half .

[TD]

the only foolproof way to clean injectors is to take them off and have them serviced by a specialist, the nozzles get gummed up and need a clean at around 80K ish, and you need new heat washer on refitting.this I entrusted to a Bosch specialist who made a superb job and repaced bits of pipe that were leaking . It went much better aferwards and got through the MOT smoke test effortlessly.
Starting poorly is usually crap glowpugs, even one will be noticeable. two very , and three hopeless.
assuming timing is coorect as ever.

[Tex Ritter]

Defo too much diesel ...injectors or pump getting excited when under load.

If after you get your injectors sorted and it's still belting out black smoke, then you'll need to get your pump calibrated and or replaced. A dirty air filter would give you dirty/greyish smoke.


TR

[uglyboatman]

cheers, think im going to look into somewhere near to get the injectors checked out.

[Arvi]

hi i used to add 1 litre of 2 stroke oil to half a tank on my renault diesel and mecedes diesel van both used to run smoother and quieter afterwards

i would worry a bout black smoke i have seen brand new BMW and Mercedes chuck out black clould under load

[HarryMann]

Has it had regular servicing and has the Timing belt been changed at correct intervals. Could be complete tosh as I'm no expert.

That little bit is Louey, unless it breaks, shouldn't ever change timing significantly by wearing a bit.. if it moves at all, at all, it'll fail within seconds or minutes I would think.

Under heavy load, i expect they all do a bit, if it's not oily, then prob injectors or pump. Sounds like a good engine... compared to mine (blue, black, everything but sky-blue pink shot with sugar comes out the back, though it settles down after 10 to 15 minutes! Pulls well on a cold day...

If an injector cleaner is to work, don't mess with silly amounts, stick a goodly lot in, but the only guaranteed way is a proper injector out service and spray pattern check - as recommended above. Can transform an engine, esp. smoothness and economy. Always put a new set of glow plugs in at same time, sods are not easy to get at (but check each new one works first, can quite easily get new duff ones).

Airfilter worth a look too, in fact 1st thing to check as obvious and easiest

[uglyboatman]

cheers for the replys,

Think i have reached a point where i have run out of checks i can do so i
had a guy recommended near me today, a desiel specialist - so im going to take it in for him to check over and maybe do a compression test & check injectors