Tuning Black sooty smoke.

[Ducato Rich]

Hi all, I'm a newbie on this site with an exhaust smoke problem on a 2004 244 2.3 Ducato. I have black smoke (overfueling) when accelerating. The filter is new and the new(ish) engine has done about 3000 miles. I dont know where to start with this and garages, around here at least, aren't interested. Any pointers would be great. Thanks.

 

[cris1117]

Its probably soot from the exhaust its blown out under hard acceleration, I have driven diesel lorries vans and cars for many years and they all do it.
This sounds brutal but it really isn't, get the engine warm find somewhere quiet put it neutral and floor the throttle for a couple of seconds you will see a big cloud of smoke out of the exhaust do this 3 or 4 times and it will run clear.
I did this on the way to the MOT every year for many years and never failed on a smoke test.

 

[StevenRB45]

May be worth checking your boost pipes, any leaks will let allow it to escape meaning there's not enough air in the mix for the fuel to combust fully leading to soot.

Any hissing under load for example?

 

[Ducato Rich]

Its probably soot from the exhaust its blown out under hard acceleration, I have driven diesel lorries vans and cars for many years and they all do it.
This sounds brutal but it really isn't, get the engine warm find somewhere quiet put it neutral and floor the throttle for a couple of seconds you will see a big cloud of smoke out of the exhaust do this 3 or 4 times and it will run clear.
I did this on the way to the MOT every year for many years and never failed on a smoke test.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've done that and it didn't make any difference, it just made the grass black.

 

[Ducato Rich]

May be worth checking your boost pipes, any leaks will let allow it to escape meaning there's not enough air in the mix for the fuel to combust fully leading to soot.

Any hissing under load for example?

Hi thanks for the reply. I am wondering if it may be this. No hissing exactly but there is a strange low frequency sound at the point it the turbo would come under pressure to the point that it's not. You can't hear it with the window up and I thought it was from the exhaust at first. I've been all through the piping but can't find anything wrong with them. Perhaps I've missed something!

 

[StevenRB45]

Perhaps although it also may be the turbo isn't boosting as it should which would lead to similar issues.

If it's not getting the air it expects the fuel ratio is wrong, soot is created.

 

[Wiff2110]

Its probably soot from the exhaust its blown out under hard acceleration, I have driven diesel lorries vans and cars for many years and they all do it.
This sounds brutal but it really isn't, get the engine warm find somewhere quiet put it neutral and floor the throttle for a couple of seconds you will see a big cloud of smoke out of the exhaust do this 3 or 4 times and it will run clear.
I did this on the way to the MOT every year for many years and never failed on a smoke test.

I’ll give that a try, I’ve been using Redex diesel cleaner but mine still smokes under heavy acceleration.

 

[Ducato Rich]

I’ll give that a try, I’ve been using Redex diesel cleaner but mine still smokes under heavy acceleration.

Perhaps although it also may be the turbo isn't boosting as it should which would lead to similar issues.

If it's not getting the air it expects the fuel ratio is wrong, soot is created.

Thanks for your reply. It's like trying to find the correct part of a jigsaw when blindfolded.