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Date:         Mon, 3 Apr 2000 09:30:17 -0700
Reply-To:     Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Subject:      Re: Black smoke - diesel running rich?
Comments: To: Robin Oomkes <robin.oomkes@EURONET.NL>
In-Reply-To:  <38E74CF7.D0F87300@euronet.nl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

At 3:36 PM +0200 4/2/00, Robin Oomkes wrote: >Good morning everyone, > >A couple of months ago I wrote about my diesel's loss of power - finally >my shade tree mechanic did something about it - he says he's 'tuned' the >fuel injection pump. > >Power is greatly improved, but under moderate to heavy acceleration the >van smokes a lot (black smoke). Oil, oil filter and air filter are >clean. A steady 60 mph gives no visible smoke. I don't really want to go >back to the mechanic for what I hope is a simple correction.

Sure, look at the fuel metering from the pump--it could be running rich. Another possible cause of the smoke is the injectors. If they are releasing fuel at too low a pressure, or are fouled such that the spray pattern is more a stream than a fine mist (nailing), you won't get good combustion and you'll be getting lotsa smoke under mod to high load conditions.

Perhaps you could try a bottle or two of injector cleaner in the tank as a first step? If, after adjusting the fuel metering, you still have this problem, have a look at the injectors. I don't know what's available where you are, but in these parts it is cheaper to just replace the injector inserts (~CDN$30 each) than having them tested (and then possibly replaced anyway).

Am I the only one left wondering what the deal is with your mechanic? I mean, does he check his work or what? If he fiddled with the injection pump, then how could he have missed the smoking if, as you say, "under moderate to heavy acceleration the van smokes a lot"? Geez, doesn't he test drive after working on a car? Is he blind? Maybe it's time to start looking for another mechanic? I totally do not mean to flame you in any way, but this doesn't sit right with me, and I'd hate to see a listee get jacked by a careless mechanic....

T.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tobin Copley Bowen Island, BC, Canada tobin.copley@ubc.ca

'82 westy 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky") '97 son Russell ============= '99 daughter Margaret /_| |__| |__|:| clatter 1995: 'Round US, Mexico, Canada 15,000 mi O|. .| clatter! 1996: Vancouver to Inuvik, NWT 7,400 km ~-()-==----()-~ Previous buses: '76 westy deluxe (Daisy), '76 westy standard (Mango) http://www.sfu.ca/~tcopley/vw/


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