Smoke going uphill

johnmowcop

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C220 CDI 2005 Also Atego /2002/diesel
Suggestions please.
2007 c200 cdi auto. 59k miles regularly serviced (just had one about 1k miles ago) on a 46 mile to work mostly 2/3rds m/way it averages 56mpg. Car seems to go ok but after a 1 hour trip home tonight the last bit is 1/2 mile up a steep hill from standing start. Not flogging it but noticed in the lights of a following car a lot of smoke. Any ideas please before I take into garage.
Thanks' JohnT
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Perfectly normal at night.
The exhaust contains particulates which are picked up by the lights of the car behind. In daylight you just don't see it as there isn't a strong light directed straight at the exhaust.
 

Taffy7hfa

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2002 ML 270 CDI,2016 Hyundai1.6 CRDI i30,2014 Peugeot 308 HDI. .6 HDI.
Standard for a 10 year old diesel, even a well maintained low mileage example will smoke a bit under load.
If you don't want any smoke trade it in for a petrol car or a much newer diesel.
 
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johnmowcop

johnmowcop

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Thanks' for the quick response gents.
 

Paul Goff

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2002 C220CDi CD Estate
Our family steed for about 190,000 miles was a 1.9TD (mechanically controlled) Citroen, after some days driving steadily, giving it serious welly would result in a huge black smoke screen, enough to hide following traffic! In daylight!!!
It would do this for several big boot fulls before settling down, on the way for MOTs it was essential to go the long way round "enthusiastically" or it would fail the smoke test.

The car was replaced by a VAG 1.9 TDI of similar weight but 55% more power, this was 20% more economical and much less smokey.

The present incumbent is an old C220CDi, 25% heavier than either and an auto, it's economy is between the two but less smokey than either, still noticeable though.

Diesels have come a long way in 25 years, BUT the smoke is particulates, and that is the latest bogeyman.

Tis just the way they are.
 

mercedes13156

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CLK 200 Cabrio and a Ford Kuga
Tootling around lets the particulates accumulate in the exhaust boxes because there's not enough of a breeze in the pipe to push them out the back. Hit a steep hill after tootling for 60 miles and your lower gear pushes up the revs and the gas flow and it collects the particulates, throws them out the back and produces the blackish grey cloud.
 

ajlsl600

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clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
i have no idea how most of the ten yr old diesels in france pass a CT. but they DO and many a day i cant see the make.!! they are best thrashed a bit when at opp temps after a week of short runs.
 

mercedes13156

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All diesels like good thrashing! Even the old diesel cement mixer I used to have ran better after a few heavy batches had been mixed.
 

Taffy7hfa

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Although the dpf and egr are generally the prime suspect, smoke is not always caused by a build up of particulates in the emissions system, over time, worn seals in the turbo, or oil that is past its sell by date can cause engine oil to pool in the bottom of the intercooler, this then gets sucked into the engine when boost pressures are high causing a big plume of smoke when you accelerate, if these problems are left unchecked the engine can eventually "runaway" and eat itself.
 

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