Black smoke on hard acceleration: problem?
 

Hi guys,

I've been driving my 2001 CDT around and I've had some people mention that when I have my foot to the floor there's a noticeable amount of black smoke coming out of the exhaust but none when cruising.

Obviously it's an older diesel with no DPF so I'm wondering if that's just what the car does when it runs a bit rich or if there's something I need to look into.

Cheers.

Mine does it around 3.5k rpm

Might just need a good clear out. Take if for an Italian.

If you haven't recently then Change all the filters and oil.

Check your hoses, intercooler O rings etc, it might just need the intercooler and manifold cleaning out?

HI Alex.
Your intercooler O-rings have failed or you have split in the hose somewhere, rectify that and at the same time give the manifold, EGR, & Map Sensor a good clean, add a new air filter if one as not been replaced in the last 6 months, all should then be ok.

And if this has been done, What else could you do??:shrug:

Just another "bulletproof", dirty, smelly diesel! :getmecoat::D

I assume you have tried a decent injector cleaner? Forte comes well recommended.

And replaced the pcv filter?

Thinking about it, the O-rings on the intercooler seems like the most likely explanation. There's a bit of a whistle at 3k RPM which I understand can also be caused by the seal failing.

Is it a relatively simple abeit dirty job to change?

I had the same problem on my diesel on a trip through France to the Costa del Sol. Turned out to be the 'O' rings, which I had just had replaced to avoid any such problems...:shrug: I was fortunate, bought a good as new intercooler from a scrapyard in Malaga (Rovers and MG's are quite rare in Spain!), and a mate who owns a garage fitted it for free...so 40 euros well spent! Now pulls very strongly! Not quite as much as my old M5 did, but that didn't get 40 to the gallon...:D