Smoke and low power, especially uphill

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edmansell
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Smoke and low power, especially uphill

Post by edmansell » Thu Dec 26, 2013 1:35 pm

Hi - I've had my bongo for 6 months, it's a 1995 2.5 diesel, 2wd tin top. It has never liked going uphill, but has always made it until recently. If the revs are low it gradually loses power until it comes to a complete stop, grey smoke comes out of the exhaust, the engine is chugging and spluttering. It is also like this when I first start it up, engine splutters until I give it high revs. I always have to park it facing downhill, as I have no chance to get it moving uphill after starting (I can reverse it uphill with no problem). It seems to be worse after its recent service, all filters were changed, fuel system was cleaned. It's not as bad if I drive along with the HOLD button in, presumably this is just keeping my revs high by forcing a low gear?

I also find that it cuts out when I'm at a junction or traffic lights, the revs go low, the engine starts stuttering and will shut out if I don't rev it.

I don't have one of those buttons by the driver's knee, and I have checked all the hoses I can access for any loose connections, can't find any.

Any ideas would be appreciated, I'm not very technical but I can follow instructions :D

Thanks
Gasy
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Location: Peterborough

Re: Smoke and low power, especially uphill

Post by Gasy » Thu Dec 26, 2013 2:12 pm

Have you cleaned the banjo filter in the fuel pump
Worked wonders for mine
I'm sure more techy people will be along soon with more answers
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
Gixermark
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Re: Smoke and low power, especially uphill

Post by Gixermark » Thu Dec 26, 2013 2:18 pm

My guess would be turbo! Would give lack of power & white smoke.

May be lucky and it's just seals ( pretty sure there has been threads on the forum re this ) but this is where I would look ....check all hoses/connections are done up tight before removing etc!

Have you checked the oil level / condition? Might be head gasket but could be a whole host of things..check the turbo as lack of power up hill is a deffo. Only thing making me think it might be something different is the spluttering on start up ....fuel? Could be the banjo filter!!

Good luck
rita
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Re: Smoke and low power, especially uphill

Post by rita » Thu Dec 26, 2013 3:43 pm

Sounds very much like Fuel Starvation, you need to clean/replace All Filters for starters. Also worth looking at the condition of the Stop Solenoid valve.
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Smoke and low power, especially uphill

Post by Northern Bongolow » Thu Dec 26, 2013 7:44 pm

cold start solenoids or the pipes to them.
this can give the symptoms of being on choke, or half choke, so it may start or run badly, and stall when hot.

do a search on here, top right button, type in cold and start and solenoids, the AND between is important.
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The Great Pretender
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Re: Smoke and low power, especially uphill

Post by The Great Pretender » Fri Dec 27, 2013 2:18 am

rita wrote:Sounds very much like Fuel Starvation, you need to clean/replace All Filters for starters. Also worth looking at the condition of the Stop Solenoid valve.
Makes sense, parking downhill allows pressure towards the IP, this will help prime the pump. The Bongo injection system need the IP to pull fuel from the tank and the front of the IP acts as a suction pump to feed it.
So any restrictions before it can cause problems.
The easiest way to overcome front seal problems is to do what manufacturers do and fit a cheap pump beforehand. If this works the best place to look for the problem is with the front seal.
:wink:
To infinity and beyond
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