Unburnt Fuel ?

[crashyb]

Have got a 1992 2.4 manual which seems to run well on Shell Diesel Extra. No knocking when warm and plenty of pull. However, have noticed on these dark mornings and evenings that I can lay a pretty good James Bond style cloud on the ring road when I put my foot down. Especially bad under load. Don't notice it at all in daylight. Must be headlights making it look worse.

Reckon it is unburnt fuel as I have done 2000 miles since last oil change and there is no noticeable drop in oil or water. Am getting 24mpg so its not catastrophic. Mentioned it to colleague who has new VW Bora Tdi and he says he can do similar thing with same fuel.

Anyone else noticed anything funny with Diesel Extra ?. Anyone got any recommendations on settings, fixes or alternative fuels ?.

[kitesurf_phil]

Have got a 1992 2.4 manual which seems to run well on Shell Diesel Extra. No knocking when warm and plenty of pull. However, have noticed on these dark mornings and evenings that I can lay a pretty good James Bond style cloud on the ring road when I put my foot down. Especially bad under load. Don't notice it at all in daylight. Must be headlights making it look worse.

Reckon it is unburnt fuel as I have done 2000 miles since last oil change and there is no noticeable drop in oil or water. Am getting 24mpg so its not catastrophic. Mentioned it to colleague who has new VW Bora Tdi and he says he can do similar thing with same fuel.
Anyone else noticed anything funny with Diesel Extra ?. Anyone got any recommendations on settings, fixes or alternative fuels ?.

I too notice the smoke screen but only in the dark and if someone is following close behind with their headlights on. It doesn't matter whether I am running ordinary diesel, optimax or vegoil. I also used to notice it in my old Peugeot 306 diesel and in the tranny vans at work. I would only worry if it was noticable in daylight.

[madcampbell]

Dark Nights

I also have found the same. I never noticed any smoke before till they changed the clocks and I drove more in the dark. Big clouds of smoke when driving away hard. Never seen it in the day. Mpg good enough so not worried.
Mark

[Maverick]

Mine has always done the smoke screen, it used to worry me until I looked in the mirror in the works diesel Corsa (I swear I will never own one, ever, ever) and noticed that it also did it. I just think it gives the people youv'e just pulled out in front off a signal that your eccelerating as fast as you can!!

[crashyb]

Thanks everyone. Glad to know i'm not the only one leaving a smoke screen. was starting to get paranoid about something failing.

[exmee46]

I don't get it on the Surf, but I used to get it on my old Rover 418 SLD Tourer. Always seemed worse on a dark damp evening - so may well be dependent on conditions. Probably is excessive fuel as mine only did it under load (with turbo working hard which caused additional fuel to be pumped in). Remember the exhaust points downwards so by the time its drifted up enough to come into scope of the rear view mirror it will be pretty well dispersed so only looks like grey mist.

Nothing that cash can't put right if it bothers you


Cheers

Kev

[dirtydog]

all diesels do it if you boot it - its just you see it more in the headlights! I kinda like it makes you feel faster anyway

[madcampbell]

How does he do it ???

exmee46 has no chance of seeing any smoke ..in another post he says he is getting 530km to the tank..there is no way you could have any unspent fuel to waste on decorating the car behind with that mpg
How do you do it ...unplug the turbo

[Paul Savage]

in the same boat

was glad to see this post.

My 2.4 manual billows black smoke if revved on start up - but is clear if revved at the end of a run.
However........ at night it seems ten times worse in peoples headlights.

As long as its normal - and you make it sound like it is - then thats ok.

Somebody mentioned that its fixable if you throw cash at it....... fix what please??

Silver lining time........ stops people tail gating you!!!!

[stimpy30]

egr

had same prob undid egr vac pipe no smoke more power go give it a go you know you want to

[TonyN]

Maybe enough cash to buy a spanking new engine! its a diesel thing, even a newish engine will smoke under heavy throttle.

It always looks worse at night with lights shining though it.

[exmee46]

exmee46 has no chance of seeing any smoke ..in another post he says he is getting 530km to the tank..there is no way you could have any unspent fuel to waste on decorating the car behind with that mpg
How do you do it ...unplug the turbo

Turbo always seems to be there for the traffic light burn , but I do try and follow Clarkson's advice when he drove that Audi A8 to Edinburgh and back from London on a tankful of diesel -
"never ever EVER use the brakes ... ever"

Cheers

Kev

[exmee46]

was glad to see this post.

My 2.4 manual billows black smoke if revved on start up - but is clear if revved at the end of a run.
However........ at night it seems ten times worse in peoples headlights.

As long as its normal - and you make it sound like it is - then thats ok.

Somebody mentioned that its fixable if you throw cash at it....... fix what please??

Silver lining time........ stops people tail gating you!!!!

Well, depends how much cash - buying a 3.0ltr will make a big difference - they don't seem to suffer so much. In the meantime, you could have the injectors cleaned/replaced and the fuel pump pressure & timing checked and set up carefully by a good recommended diesel tuner who knows what they are doing.
See also disconnecting EGR threads on the site and make your own mind up about the link or otherwise between doing that and subsequent cylinder head failure.

Cheers

Kev

[muncher]

I did a search on EGR vac pipe but nothing came up. Anyone give me an idea where this pipe is so i can have a fiddle, ooo errr misses.

[Koi]

I did a search on EGR vac pipe but nothing came up. Anyone give me an idea where this pipe is so i can have a fiddle, ooo errr misses.

just search 'EGR' if it don't return at least 50 threads I will be surprised.