Slightly smokey sprinter

[IAN MAC]

1998 Sprinter 310
New to this, but anyone out there give me a couple of pointers on where to start looking.
Bit of black smoke (fuel i take it ), worse when cold but quite often gives off a cloud on a light throttle. Doesn't seem to slow it down much, just a bit heavier on the juice....
I can manage most mechanical stuff, really just need telling what to do.
Any help much appreciated.
Cheers
Ian

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

I would start with the obvious, i.e. change the air filter and put a strong dose of injector cleaner through the tank to see if this helps.

 

[IAN MAC]

Thanks, tried that, also fuel filter, return pipe and cleaned the inlet manifold.
I just don't know enough about the pump to go messing about without guidance.



Ian

 

[Yeti]

Sound like a boost leak to me - usually a bit of black smoke when you pull away, and on heavy acceleration.

See it quite often on the Octavias when one of the intercooler hose clips burst.

Sadly it's not the problem with my 312D :-(

 

[IAN MAC]

So what would i be looking for, or is it not a visible fault??

 

[Yeti]

Usually not visible.

As far as I'm aware, the 310 is the same engine as mine, just without the intercooler, so your pipework will be a bit different.

I pressure tested mine by sticking a can of wd 40 in one end and tightening the hosepipe clip onto it, then putting a bit of water pipe with a gate valve in the other end (to seal it). I'd already drilled a whole in the plastic water pipe and fitted a tyre valve so I could use a foot pump to pressurise it and listen for any leaks.