Black soot

[Surf01]

Hi, I have recently noticed that the vehicle is blowing black soot onto the front of the caravan when towing. There is even some soot on the rear bumper and it is black. It is an R reg Surf with 53000 miles on the clock. Is this something to be concerned about as I beleive the problem may be caused by faulty injectors. Economy seems about right at about 28 - 30 mpg.

[Tallyman]

First off, check to make sure your oil, fuel and air filters are reasonably clean/new, if not replace. Then try some Redex or Wynns diesel injector cleaner in the fuel tank. If it's that dirty it's probably best to put a bottle in when the tank is about 1/4 full, then run it until it's nearly empty, fill up and put another bottle in. If that don't cure it you may have problems with the fuel pump/timing but at that sort of mpg I rather doubt it's that.

[Gizmo]

could be a little clogging up , as stated put some redex in and give some welly down the motorway.....

Try ading a down pipe to your exhaust so the gases etc are directed away from the caravan

[Uplander]

Hi, I have recently noticed that the vehicle is blowing black soot onto the front of the caravan when towing. There is even some soot on the rear bumper and it is black. It is an R reg Surf with 53000 miles on the clock. Is this something to be concerned about as I beleive the problem may be caused by faulty injectors. Economy seems about right at about 28 - 30 mpg.

This is reminiscent of a tankful of dodgy fuel - have you recently bought some from a source you dont normally frequent. Actually oil burners are more tolerant to this than gas guzzlers, but it may have been a filling station underground tank nearly empty which has somehow got contaminated - rare - but it does happen. They (Inspectors) dont do the frequency of checks which they did 30 years ago on quality and measured litres. You do not mention the driveability - is it down on power ?
I go along with Tallyman's advice, but dont spend too much, juice is dear enough nowadays. Pal of mine markets additives - he is alus crying nowadays about the decreasing sales - he really should get out more IMHO

[dirtydog]

This is reminiscent of a tankful of dodgy fuel - have you recently bought some from a source you dont normally frequent. Actually oil burners are more tolerant to this than gas guzzlers, but it may have been a filling station underground tank nearly empty which has somehow got contaminated - rare - but it does happen. They (Inspectors) dont do the frequency of checks which they did 30 years ago on quality and measured litres. You do not mention the driveability - is it down on power ?
I go along with Tallyman's advice, but dont spend too much, juice is dear enough nowadays. Pal of mine markets additives - he is alus crying nowadays about the decreasing sales - he really should get out more IMHO

Yes it is rare and happened to me! I will never fill at JET ever again. Fuel got tested and no reply from Trading Standards as yet...
Mine was undrivable though!

[da SLUG man]

wouldn't that be normal?... all diesels leave soot, just as long as it's not pouring out black smoke i wouldn't worry.

[Surf01]

Black soot

I did fill up at a service station out in the sticks about a week ago. At 93.9p per litre it should have been as clean as a whistle. I will try the Redex lark and see if it works. I haven't really noticed a problem with power but then I seldom put foot.
Gizmo can you purchase seperately a bit of down pipe to prevent soot build up on the front of your caravan and on the rear bumper. If so, where can this be got? Don't fancy buying a whole rear box just for a downward bend in the rear exhaust.

[keef]

I did fill up at a service station out in the sticks about a week ago. At 93.9p per litre it should have been as clean as a whistle. I will try the Redex lark and see if it works. I haven't really noticed a problem with power but then I seldom put foot.
Gizmo can you purchase seperately a bit of down pipe to prevent soot build up on the front of your caravan and on the rear bumper. If so, where can this be got? Don't fancy buying a whole rear box just for a downward bend in the rear exhaust.

I really hate to suggest this but you may well get one at Halfrauds ,Ripspeed or any other supplier of generally cheesy accessories.
Keef