Club 80-90 Forums

1.6D 84

Hi - i have noticed recently that when the van is put under load, ie up a steep hill etc, there is quite a bit of smoke - which stops as soon as i ease off.. Maybe my imagination but im sure it's bad enough to make cars hang back. It looks light smoke rather than black.

Any thoughts on what's up here ? is it something that can be cured easily/cheaply ?

Im toying with the idea of going down the route of a AAZ conversion next year when funds allow, but this could be a good 4 or 5 months - is there something i can sort in the meantime or am i best putting up with the smoke & saving my cash for a conversion ?


Cheers

When was the van last serviced?

Could be dirty injectors, dirty fuel filter. Could be worse.

What colour smoke?

Blue = oil
White = water
Black = diesel

are you getting splatters of oil on the tailgate? Could be an oil leak thast burning on the block. Perhaps not because that would happen all the time

When was your air filter last changed?

New filters (fuel/filter) were fitted over a year ago, it's sounding like i could do with a service ?

Im pretty sure the smoke is white.

Is there a good way of cleaning the injectors or are these replaced as a part of servicing ?

A diesel specialist (Bosch service centres?) clean injectors, though check GSF and VAG dealers for price of new ones too.

There is a little bit of leak around the base of the dipstick. But not enough to leave a mark when parked up, its usually clean underneath whenver i have parked up - so i guess it's not bad

I'd go for a basic service first. A mucky air filter could mean that not all the diesel is getting burnt.

Cheers, think i will give a van a service this weekend.