Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:54 pm

I have noticed the last few days that the bongo has black smoke coming from the exhaust when first started up and it is noisier than usual when driven. Jimmy says/believes.. "If it's working, leave it alone" However I am a bit worried about it. It has recently had all the filters done and the back exhaust replaced. I can't find anything on a search that might help, so hopefully, one of you kind people will advise and put my mind at rest

Cheers Anna

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:56 pm

Hi Anna, have you got the "winter pack" fitted? (twin starter batteries etc) Or it could be the EGR system playing up...

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:04 pm

Its worth checking the simple things first.

I recently bought a K&N air filter & had a similar problem soon after.

I think I'd rather ham-fistedly stuffed the filter in at a bit of a wonky angle so it didn't seat correctly.

2nd attempt sorted it.

Fingers crossed its a straightforward solution.

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:07 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:Hi Anna, have you got the "winter pack" fitted? (twin starter batteries etc) Or it could be the EGR system playing up...

Hi BDC,
I asked Jimmy about the winter pack and he didn't know what I was talking about ! What is it? He doesn't know what EGR is either

Well! You know that were not Technie minded,and although I thought I was learning, there is so much to remember

He only has one battery at the moment ,but we keep a new electsol 110 for emergency and may get it fitted one day. The Bongo starts OK. Only refused to start once when the earth terminal had worked loose. I thought it was the exhaust maybe that was at fault, but I don't really know.

Cheers Anna

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:09 pm

Why didn't you mention it at Huntingdon?

Extra noise may be caused by the new exhaust, until it gets sooted up - give it until Mablethorpe to see if it's any better. You could also bung a few litres of rapeseed oil in with the diesel - this will help clean the system out and may help with the smoke. If you don't fancy that, get some diesel engine injector cleaner, bung that into the tank (when there's not much diesel in) and take it for an Italian tune-up i.e. select a lower gear and drive it at high revs for a mile or so.

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:10 pm

mister munkey wrote:Its worth checking the simple things first.

I recently bought a K&N air filter & had a similar problem soon after.

I think I'd rather ham-fistedly stuffed the filter in at a bit of a wonky angle so it didn't seat correctly.

2nd attempt sorted it.

Fingers crossed its a straightforward solution.

Hi Chris,
It's been about 3 months since the filters were changed. Is it still a possibility, do you think ?

Cheers Anna

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:15 pm

francophile1947 wrote:Why didn't you mention it at Huntingdon?
Extra noise may be caused by the new exhaust, until it gets sooted up - give it until Mablethorpe to see if it's any better. You could also bung a few litres of rapeseed oil in with the diesel - this will help clean the system out and may help with the smoke. If you don't fancy that, get some diesel engine injector cleaner, bung that into the tank (when there's not much diesel in) and take it for an Italian tune-up i.e. select a lower gear and drive it at high revs for a mile or so.

Hi John,
I forgot all about it when we were away, until he started the Bongo this morning to come home and I was directing him back to hitch the caravan. I then realised how black it was and how noisy the journey home was. The exhaust is about 9 months old. Recent, but not too recent.
Jimmy was using all diesel and a few weeks ago starting using oil again. I know because I saw the empty bottles! Could that have something to do with it ?

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:16 pm

If you only have one battery, chances are it isn't a "winter" model bongo then Anna... The winter models have two smallish same diameter batteries fitted, along with a shutter/flap fitted into the ehaust. There is a switch (usually next to the "rear" switch on the dash) that when pressed activates the system,when the system is activated the flap in the exhaust closes to aid faster cold engine warm up, this flap is quite prone to sticking though, causuing rough running, and excess smoke when the engine has reached operating temperature. The EGR system is a rather IMO unneccessary system that many owners have either removed, or blanked off (my system has been blanked, then removed) The japanese were fond of fitting EGR to many diesels to help get them through the stringent laws on emissions...Not required over here in the UK. It's just an item waiting to go wrong. The EGR valve can jam, which again leads to excess smoke, and rough running when the engine is up to temp.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:21 pm

not so old wrote: Jimmy was using all diesel and a few weeks ago starting using oil again. I know because I saw the empty bottles! Could that have something to do with it ?

Aha!... You may be running too high a concentration of veggy to diesel then Anna. Some bongo's happily run on 100% veggy (when warm) Mine certainly won't! 25% max on mine before i get a VERY smoky exhaust whilst cold...It did clear up as the engine warmed though. Do you have silver bumpers? Sooty residue near the exhaust aperture?

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:22 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:If you only have one battery, chances are it isn't a "winter" model bongo then Anna... The winter models have two smallish same diameter batteries fitted, along with a shutter/flap fitted into the ehaust. There is a switch (usually next to the "rear" switch on the dash) that when pressed activates the system,when the system is activated the flap in the exhaust closes to aid faster cold engine warm up, this flap is quite prone to sticking though, causuing rough running, and excess smoke when the engine has reached operating temperature. The EGR system is a rather IMO unneccessary system that many owners have either removed, or blanked off (my system has been blanked, then removed) The japanese were fond of fitting EGR to many diesels to help get them through the stringent laws on emissions...Not required over here in the UK. It's just an item waiting to go wrong. The EGR valve can jam, which again leads to excess smoke, and rough running when the engine is up to temp.

Aha! Now I remember something about this EGR

I think I must have had a problem in the past, because I had considered getting it blocked off. I will check the old posts.
I am sure there is only one battery and I don't know of a switch, but she starts well, even in the winter. I will try and find out about that switch etc. Thanks for the help

Cheers Anna

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:25 pm

not so old wrote: Jimmy was using all diesel and a few weeks ago starting using oil again. I know because I saw the empty bottles! Could that have something to do with it ?

Very doubtful - exhaust is usually cleaner with veg oil.
Does it sound noisy all the time, or just when travelling in it? May just be the engine cover clips need bending a bit, to hold the covers down tighter.

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:30 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:
not so old wrote: Jimmy was using all diesel and a few weeks ago starting using oil again. I know because I saw the empty bottles! Could that have something to do with it ?
Aha!... You may be running too high a concentration of veggy to diesel then Anna. Some bongo's happily run on 100% veggy (when warm) Mine certainly won't! 25% max on mine before i get a VERY smoky exhaust whilst cold...It did clear up as the engine warmed though. Do you have silver bumpers? Sooty residue near the exhaust aperture?

Just been out to look, but can't see any sooty marks, however it's been raining. Jimmy says ,he is using veg oil ,but not much. I think also that it may be something to do with it. Thanks for your help.

Cheers Anna

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:36 pm

Try boshing in half a tank of neat diesel see if that improves things Anna... ( I use Shell "Vpower" diesel once a month) Do you only get the smoke when the engine is quite cold?

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:39 pm

francophile1947 wrote:
not so old wrote: Jimmy was using all diesel and a few weeks ago starting using oil again. I know because I saw the empty bottles! Could that have something to do with it ?
Very doubtful - exhaust is usually cleaner with veg oil.
Does it sound noisy all the time, or just when travelling in it? May just be the engine cover clips need bending a bit, to hold the covers down tighter.

I will ask Jimmy to check the clips, but the noise and smoke started together, so I assumed the problem was with one thing only. When towing the caravan, the revs are high and gear often low, which is very noisy, but it is still pretty noisy without the caravan and the smoke this morning was when he was reversing up to hitch the caravan. I am puzzed, but I have a few things now that I can have checked. I will ask Jimmy to take me out on a burn up too

Anything to have it the way it was. Thanks John

Cheers Anna

not so old · Post by **not so old** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:47 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:Try boshing in half a tank of neat diesel see if that improves things Anna... ( I use Shell "Vpower" diesel once a month) Do you only get the smoke when the engine is quite cold?

Well! The smoke seems worse when just started up, but I can't see much once I am in the car. I have however noticed an exhaust fume type smell with the window open. I will check the front of the caravan for smoke soot. It might have caused a sooty thing, but maybe not as it is about 4 ft away. I am probably worrying unnecessarily, but I can now check out all these things and try all the remedies suggested. Thankyou for your help

Cheers Anna

Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy

Re: Exhaust? Black smoke and noisy