hi getting close to my mot and very worried itg gonna fail with emmisions too high any tips....?

- (#9918) steve kendrick, 6 Apr 04 07:53

Additive in the fuel to clean the injectors etc.

Make sure there's a mechanic on hand who knows how to adjust the settings on the diesel pump - the endstop on the turbo boost (hex screw right on top of pump) or, if necessary and very carefully, the max fuel screw at the back of the pump. (See Ace Handbook)

- (#9918) Dave Mason (Sussex), 6 Apr 04 08:08

The first year I had my Townace and my first diesel it failed on the emmisions and rear shock absorber bushes. The mechanic advised me to take it for a good run and thrash it. I did this and it passed and has done so ever since. Luckily my garage is at the top of a hill so I always use a low gear and high revs and arrive at the appointed time so everything is still hot. An observation at my last MOT was that the shock absorber bushes were starting to wear again. Not bad for four years motoring!

- (#9918) Mark (Dover), 6 Apr 04 08:30

Hi,
I am an MOT tester and it is quite common for diesels to fail the smoke test where I live (Isle of Wight). This is due to repeated very short distances driven. The "smoke" is mostly the build up of soot in the exhaust. Diesels produce a lot of this and, if the engine is running at low revs and low load, there is not enough gas flow to blow this out the back and it builds up in the silencers. That is why it improves after a good caning. A lot of revs in low gear will basically blow all the soot out. Diesel additives will keep the system in good condition in the long term and i use them in both my cars, but they will not really solve a high emissions problem like a magic potion. Before you take it for the test, make sure that you have blown it out. And make sure that your cambelt is in good condition.

- (#9918) John Shaw, 6 Apr 04 14:12

I took my masterace for the mot this afternoon. As it has not been driven recently I switched off the overdrive, turned on the aircon and did a 5 mile trip down a "fast" road. Black smoke kept other vehicles from getting too close! Straight into mot station and it passed with a reading of 1.5 or there abouts. I probably won't see 4500rpm+ for another 12 months.
Ray

- (#9918) Ray A, 6 Apr 04 15:47

Hi. My MOT tester advised me to put diesel additive into the fuel. At the time the engine was running as sweet as a bird and no smoke. I'm now on my second tank of diesel, trying desperatly to get rid of the plumes of black smoke that follow me around like bad smell! The good folk of Gresley have started to carry gas masks, in case they see me driving up the road. Actually, it's when it's cold, and especially when it's cold and going uphill that it is worse. I've decided that cold, uphill, and Liteace are words that do not go together. There is less smoke when it is warm, so first thing before I go out, I start the engine, on my drive, remove the obligatory 'half a key' from the ingition, lock it up, and go back in the house for a few mins. This, although poss not quite a legal thing to do, leaving a vehicle unattended whilst the engine is running, not only causes less smoke on start off, but also ensures I don't crawl up the road at 20mph!! And, to make matters worse, I'm selling my Frontera, a car which has never let me down, in favour of keeping the Liteace. I'm losing the plot somewhere......x

- (#9918) old bird, 7 Apr 04 14:47

I can only think that you mistakenly put a PETROL engine additive into your DIESEL Townace from the symptoms you have described. Possibly you have damaged the pump with the harsh solvents present in the petrol additives, this may well be causing the extra smoke due to overfuelling from the diesel pump. If however it definately was a diesel additive (I'd be interested to know which make & product it was) then there is no reason for it to have this effect.

Let me know the product & I'll do the research.

Regards Rob.

- (#9918) Rob Drinkwater, 7 Apr 04 16:12

Hi Rob. It was Redex Diesel. My friend put it in the fuel tank for me. He knows a bit about diesel engines as he used to have his own lorry business and has been a truck driver for over 30yrs. He tells me it will clear, I've just got to be patient. If it doesn't clear, and there is any damage, then Redex will hear from one very disgruntled lady trucker!! If it does clear......I will miss being able to 'kickdown'to get rid of tailgaters....hehehe x

- (#9918) old bird, 8 Apr 04 02:35

The Redex treatment is designed as one of those 'put it in the tank at every fill' type additives, this will help, but over a long period, the smoke could be due, in part, to the fact that the redex lowers the burn point of the soot & this then burns off all the engine, manifold & exhaust components.
As a means of passing the MOT, I think that the Wynn's Diesel Clean Up is best, as you put it straight into the (preferablt new) fuel filter, the engine then runs on this until diesel returns, this will clean fuel lines, injectors, inlet tract, inlet valves, upper cylinders, exhaust valves, exhaust manifold & system. I have found this an excellent treatment, coupled with Wynn's Diesel Power 3 at each service in the tank.

HTH Rob.

- (#9918) Rob Drinkwater, 8 Apr 04 12:13

i've bought a product from ideal world on digital sat.. called greased lighting 12000 mile car treatment never used before but sounds the buisness.

- (#9918) steve kendrick, 8 Apr 04 15:30

Hi Rob. Thanks for the info. I've been running round with a full tank of 'new' diesel for a few days now, the second tank full since the additive, and I've noticed if I take it steady, as in keep my revs down a bit, it isn't smoking as much. In fact, on low revs it is almost clear. It still leaves a cloud on starting from junctions etc but then it looks like it's running a bit clearer. Hopefully, it's going to be ok. It's still running as sweet as a bird, the quietest diesel I've heard, and I'm used to diesel engines in my job! I'll let you know how it goes, and thanks for the info. May see you at the Ace jam. x

- (#9918) old bird, 9 Apr 04 02:36

Hi all. I lost all sense of reason yesterday, and turned out of a road to go 'uphill' whilst the engine was still cold. I crept along at 5mph while the ensuing fog of black smoke caused Swadlincote to enter an impromptu eclipse situation! Never have I seen such a black fog!! Anyway, today, I took the van to Swad Diesel for them to have a look at the injectors and stuff. There were 4 faults that they found, one was that the fuel screw was turned fully open. All small jobs. Well, the difference is amazing. I'm just going to see what it's like in the morning when it's cold, but it flies uphill, zooms along the straights and starts off quickly from junctions. And not a puff of smoke in sight. Not the slightest bit. Yippee!!!
Thing is now....the temp gauge, that always said half is now hovering between half and three quarters. Going to flush the rad out for good measure, cos mine is the model that has head gasket probs and I've been told, to avoid that, to keep the rad clean.
I'll let you know tomorrow night how it goes in the morning. Oh I'm sooooo excited..... x

- (#9918) old bird, 16 Apr 04 12:12

This morning, I started the van and drove straight off the drive. Didn't give it any time to warm up, just went for it. And what a difference. The van zoomed off down the road, pulling well, no smoke at all, and changing gear well on time. I'm delighted. There is good info on this site, and I would be lost without you guys, but, on this occasion, taking the Ace to a diesel specialist has been well worth it. If any of you have the same symptoms as mine had, (see above posts), it would be worth getting it looked at. Thanks for all your help Rob. x

- (#9918) old bird, 17 Apr 04 11:38

Oh come back black smoke and no power....all is forgiven. Seems I've swapped one lot of problems for another. Now the Liteace is overheating. Badly. Back to diesel guys who are stipping it down to give me the verdict. Headgasket or cracked head.

There's a smashing looking Mitsubishi van in the paper tonight.......I'm soooo tempted.

I'll post if the van is going for spares. x

- (#9918) old bird, 22 Apr 04 13:40

It sounds like they might have over done it on the pump timing. If I remember correctly if the timing is to far advanced, or maybe retarded, it can cause overheating.

- (#9918) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 22 Apr 04 14:37