(Home) Black smoke/loss of power

Have a 1990 town ace diesel and intermitently when started from cold clouds o black smoke from exhaust and can only get 10 mph, sometimes it clears and is then ok but now it wont clear and only does 10 mph. Any ideas???

- (#10236) Chris Green, 19 Apr 04 04:11

Does it sound "lumpy"? Is it ok at idle? Not blue smoke?

My first instinct is hosing injectors ie sticking nozzle(s) but this sounds more serious. Maybe a seizing/ed turbo bearing. Does the compressor spin freely using slight finger pressure?

Has it had contaminated fuel in it? ie water/parrafin

Has the oil been changed regularly with decent oil?

Has the turbo oil drain become blocked?

Black smoke has to be either too much fuel or not enough air. Blue smoke = oil consumption. White = cool misfire or water (steam)

As an aside to anyone reading this.......I'm not keen on the crankcase gasses being recirculated thru the turbo. The high compressor temps with oil cause lackering and subsequent performance degradation. Is it illegal(MOTwise) to vent the crankcase breather to atmosphere?

Good luck Chris

- (#10236) Mark Harriott, 19 Apr 04 11:44

Chris.....read 'emmisions' and 'black smoke'. Yours sounds exactly like mine was. I took mine to a diesel specialist who sorted it in a day. Cost £160 but well worth it. It's now got the power of a new motor, even when starting off from cold, and no smoke. Like Mark says, too much fuel...not enough air. x

- (#10236) old bird, 19 Apr 04 15:50

Please pardon me for being thick but where is this diesel screw? I have exactly the same problem as you do.
- (#10236) Brian Wharf, 27 Apr 04 12:02

I wouldn't mess with any of the fuel pump settings without access to the proper emission monitoring gear, if you get it wrong you'll be poisoning everyone and ruining your engine, pay for a proper set up.

- (#10236) Master_Simon, 27 Apr 04 12:08

Fair enough I will do.

Thanks
- (#10236) Brian Wharf, 28 Apr 04 08:09