a black smoke thought

[sid]

I was checking my oil the other day and noticed it was down a bit, it took just over .5 liter to bring it back up to the top notch on the stick. But i was thinking. Could the black smoke we all seem to be experiencing at one level or another actually be more related to oil burn and not so much the fuel system ? I agree that the fuel system is still the first place to look, and that CVI'ing it is never a bad thing, but Delis almost always have oil leaking around the seals at the turbo, Nathan at RJD says it is really common. Its not real noticable because you really cant see it from the top of the motor but if you go under and look up, a lot of the time there is oil there. If it is leaking out could it also be leaking in under pressure, and immediately burning in the hot gas? That would make smoke, and oil does burn black. Maybe with higher temps, the oil is thinner and more prone to this? I am not a mechanic but it just struck me as something that might be causing it. So I thought I would toss it into the forum and see what you all think!

SiD

[loki]

I was checking my oil the other day and noticed it was down a bit, it took just over .5 liter to bring it back up to the top notch on the stick. But i was thinking. Could the black smoke we all seem to be experiencing at one level or another actually be more related to oil burn and not so much the fuel system ? I agree that the fuel system is still the first place to look, and that CVI'ing it is never a bad thing, but Delis almost always have oil leaking around the seals at the turbo, Nathan at RJD says it is really common. Its not real noticable because you really cant see it from the top of the motor but if you go under and look up, a lot of the time there is oil there. If it is leaking out could it also be leaking in under pressure, and immediately burning in the hot gas? That would make smoke, and oil does burn black. Maybe with higher temps, the oil is thinner and more prone to this? I am not a mechanic but it just struck me as something that might be causing it. So I thought I would toss it into the forum and see what you all think!

SiD

well in gas cars oil burning is a blue smoke, not 100% if it is the same on diesel engines. I would check your engine for any oil on it, a small leak will likely not reach the ground, if you can see anything try cleaning the engine really well and checking back a couple days/weeks later.

As for the "Deli Tune" unless you have have lots of other stuff already done like tentioner pulleys and the rad checked and some other stuff I can't think of right now (call Glenn at ccautos for the details) it can be a bit of a band-aid and will likely need to be done again.

[MadB0mb3r]

When under heavy load and a heavy foot a diesel will always blow black (maybe not every diesel in exsistance) .. or when it is supplied with more fuel than it can handle.

better to coax the engine up to speed instead of mashing down the accelerator.. usually only ends up burning more fuel and blowing raw fuel out of the exhaust. somes good but more is not necessarily better..

worst thing for a diesel is to lug the engine.. where you dont shift down and with low revs the engine shudders. also drives your exhaust manifold temp sky high. cracking your exhaust manifold.

uses alot of fuel and can be damaging over time.

Stay in the sweet spot.... for best mileage and a happy delica.
Not implying anything by this post.. just for those who want to get better mileage and put less wear and tear on their babies.
and of course having your delica tuned up aswell..

my $.02

Maybe not the best description.. or explanation.. or it might not even apply to this thread..
just a blah blah..

[DelicaMark]

As for the "Deli Tune" unless you have have lots of other stuff already done like tentioner pulleys and the rad checked and some other stuff I can't think of right now (call Glenn at ccautos for the details) it can be a bit of a band-aid and will likely need to be done again.

Wow loki words like this can be taken the wrong way in a forum...band-aid fix

-Mark

[loki]

As for the "Deli Tune" unless you have have lots of other stuff already done like tentioner pulleys and the rad checked and some other stuff I can't think of right now (call Glenn at ccautos for the details) it can be a bit of a band-aid and will likely need to be done again.

Wow loki words like this can be taken the wrong way in a forum...band-aid fix

-Mark

It is what it is, not trying to offend anyone or anything, I just think that it isn't the be all and end all, it is something that needs to be done but, like I said, if other underlying things are not taken care of it can be a false sense of security and will then need to be repeated if/when those problems are taken care of, unless the unthinkable happens and one of those underlying things destroys the engine, then you will have to do it to the new engine or van that you get :(. I wouldn't bother with all of these posts if I didn't think that it was warranted. For those of you that think I'm wrong or have been duped, feel free to PM me

EDIT: I'm not trying to scare anyone here, the deli tune isn't a bad thing, if you have had everything else looked after like timing belt, timing belt tensioners, rad un-clogged/replaced, crappy rad hoses replaced, rad cap replaced and again other stuff I can't remember atm then the deli tune is the way to go, if not then those things IMO, and the opinion of a deli mechanic that I trust, should be done first.

[marsgal42]

Modern diesels with computer engine management don't make black smoke under load, but our 4D56Ts are not modern, and they do. If the fuel input, as specified by the driver's right foot, exceeds the revs the engine is turning, the excess fuel will be burnt inefficiently and come out the tailpipe as black smoke.

Black smoke all the time is a problem, as is excessive black smoke. But a bit of black smoke under acceleration or load goes with the territory.

Diesels that burn oil make blue smoke, just like gas engines.

...laura

[Jester]

As for the "Deli Tune" unless you have have lots of other stuff already done like tentioner pulleys and the rad checked and some other stuff I can't think of right now (call Glenn at ccautos for the details) it can be a bit of a band-aid and will likely need to be done again.

I wouldn't call it a "band-aid" fix.
I'd rather call it "mending one broken leg while leaving the other leg broken"
Having an injector pump tuned will not replace a worn timing belt or fix an overheating problem, no. It won't replace your tires either.

To me a "band-aid fix" refers more to stuff like pouring a "stop leak" into your engine when you see drops of oil on the driveway, instead of replacing leaky gaskets.

Of course tuning an injector pump won't solve all problems, but then it's not meant to either.
It's supposed to improve the fuel economy and engine longevity. that's all.
And the car will always work better if it's done in addition to other preventative maintenance.


To answer the original question of the poster:
As Marsgal pointed out, oil=blue, unburnt diesel(or gasoline for that matter)=black
I have to point out that my 5T Mack with a 6cyl Renault diesel and close to 400,000km doesn't smoke either, except under extreme loads, when exhaust gets gray.
Alot can be said for preventative maintenance.

[loki]

Of course tuning an injector pump won't solve all problems, but then it's not meant to either.
It's supposed to improve the fuel economy and engine longevity. that's all.
And the car will always work better if it's done in addition to other preventative maintenance.

yes and no, tuning the IP and lashing the valves makes the engine not only more efficient but also more powerful, and if there are other parts that are teetering on the edge the extra power/heat could end up pushing it over the edge, depending the what goes it could have disastrous effects.

anyways, my intention was never to say don't get the deli tune or if you have gotten it your a fool. I was only trying to inform people that there are other things in the engine that should be checked if they haven't been done before the deli tune is done, that is the advise that I have received and when explained by my deli mechanic it made perfect sense.

[Jester]

fair enough, I see where you're coming from.Point taken :)