Under Powered and Hesitant

[Bert2]

Hi
I have just been out in my van (1.6D 1983) to take it to have an MOT (don't expect it to pass), I have been doing it up for the last 3 years so it has not been on the road for awhile. The engine starts first time every time, seems to idle fine and when reved does not smoke. On the road today on the way to the garage it seemed very under powered and hesitant in the lower rev band, the result was that it was difficult to maintain speed and as my wife was following I know it smoked a lot when changing gear but was fine when the speed settled, I felt that I had to put my foot down further so I think that's what produced the dark smoke. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to get the injectors cleaned and set up and replace the fuel filter does anyone else have any good ideas? (The air filter is new just put it in)

[Bert2]

Van passed its MOT !!!!! just a couple of advisory points,
Slight corrosion to one head lamp that did not affect the light out put.
Small damage to passengers seat belt but not enough to fail
Near side rear wheel bearing slight play
near side rear tyre perished
near side step corroded under vehicle (Think he was looking at some poor welding I did when I first started!)
So there is another T25 back on the road !!!

[colinthefox]

Diesels tend to suffer from standing idle.

The lighter fractions of the fuel evaporate. Water gets in the fuel. Piston rings get gummy and don't seal too well.

Have you put in fresh fuel? Have you changed air and fuel filters?

You could also look for bubbles in the transparent fuel line, indicating that back leakage pipes or the throttle spindle seal may have deteriorated.

Before you spend too much money on it, you might try giving it a good run and when it's well warm give it a good thrashing. My family always say their diesels never give their best till they have done 50 miles or so, even after resting for a week.

[Bert2]

Cheers colinthefox,
Its funny you should say that but I have been using the van today with new fuel and some injector cleaner and it does seem to be running better, less smoke out the back too, I managed to get a new fuel filter today so I will fit that in the morning as well it good to be on the road again slowing the traffic up! while paying for some fuel today a complete stranger can up to me and started to chat about my van, and informed me he also had one! what modern vehicles have the same affect on people? cheers again for the reply