CDI Smoking Cured?

[ringway]

I have had problems with my W210 CDI producing a lot of smoke since I bought it around a year ago.

Replaced 6, injectors, MAF, thermostat, glowplugs and had a B service, all of which yielded a little improvement.

I started using Millers DPS4 in February which reduced the smoke by say, 15-20%, and improved the cars performance - quieter too.

However, the smoking problem still existed. Advice from trusted members on this forum suggested the problem was possibly EGR valve related.

I went to see Ian B. Walker at 124 Works for an A service, and he commented (JP Skiller in evidence) on how quiet the car was for a diesel (even with the bonnet open). Must be the Millers DPS4.

I told Ian about the smoking problem and he reached for a can of Forte Diesel Treatment (link below) and introduced the contents into my tank.

Since then, the car has stopped smoking and runs very well to boot - it was running well before I visited Ian, but I would think the car is very close to optimum output now.

Could this be the Forte treatment somehow having an effect on the EGR valve, (or whatever was causing the smoking problems?).

I'm a little miffed that I didn't find THE ACTUAL physical solution to the problem with the car, but I'm not complaining.


It would be interesting to hear any opinions with regard to the above.

http://www.forteuk.co.uk/Diesel_fuel.htm


Maybe Ian just has the magic touch, eh?

Paul.

 

[Diesel Benz]

I'd be interested knowing the physical background too, unfortunately magicians often don't reveal their tricks.

The add of the Forte stuff does not claim it would be able to clean the EGR but more like keeping it clean. Perhaps this and the previously used stuff still helped it the small bit it needed.

I understand that EGR issues do not necessarily fire a fault code, the issue might come back but hopefully wont any time soon at least.

 

[kwakdonut]

I have used Forte for years and have found it very good. My local Stealer is still selling the Diesel fuel treatment for £5 a can....

 

[GH421]

Give your EGR valve a good ol' scrub

did wonders for my old beemer.

 

[ringway]

Give your EGR valve a good ol' scrub

did wonders for my old beemer.

A respected local garage reckon they've cleaned plenty of inlet manifolds on 320cdi cars of around my mileage (137,000) and say doing so would "make a world of difference to the car".

They charge £150.00 for this service. They reckon the manifold will be full of black rubbish.

Would it be worth doing though?

 

[GordonTarling]

Thanks for the tip - I've ordered a can, to give it a try. So, Ian added a whole can to the tank? Was the tank full?

 

[ringway]

Thanks for the tip - I've ordered a can, to give it a try. So, Ian added a whole can to the tank? Was the tank full?

Yes, a full can, and yes, the tank was full.

 

[GordonTarling]

Thanks - will report back after I've tried it!

 

[ringway]

Thanks - will report back after I've tried it!

I could do with some for our Sprinter.

Where did you buy it from and how much did it cost?

Regards

Paul.

 

[GordonTarling]

It was £6.99 + £1.49 post from here, on Fleabay - Link

 

[GH421]

A respected local garage reckon they've cleaned plenty of inlet manifolds on 320cdi cars of around my mileage (137,000) and say doing so would "make a world of difference to the car".

They charge £150.00 for this service. They reckon the manifold will be full of black rubbish.

Would it be worth doing though?

absolutely, give your inlet manifold and egr valve a good old scrub (lots of DIY's tell you how for the bmw not too sure about mercs) and change your oil breather too. I had a BMW 320d with 138000 on the clock and the oil breather was soooooo clogged up and mucky. Didn't really notice a difference in performance once changed but it gives your Turbo a little more life in the long run

 

[Baron_Samedi]

A common trick on VW's is to completely seal off the EGR.

Could give problems at MOT time but the fix is easily undo-able

 

[ringway]

It was £6.99 + £1.49 post from here, on Fleabay - Link

You did well at £6.99.

I found £9.99.

 

[GordonTarling]

You did well at £6.99. I found £9.99.

Seems I did do well! Surely some shops must stock it?

 

[Rory]

Is it still recommended to give these cars a blast once a week?

I read that ideally you should open it up under load - like a long steepish hill. The trouble is that these cars fly up hills so effortlessly that you're doing a silly speed within a short space of time! OK, you can nudge it down a gear or two, but then there's no load to speak of.

The other day I needed to accellerate up a slip road which was in a cutting onto the M6 and looking back I'd absolutely filled it with smoke.

 

[kwakdonut]

Seems I did do well! Surely some shops must stock it?

Give your local Stealer a try - MB Swindon were still doing them at a fiver a can last time I was there

 

[GordonTarling]

Is it still recommended to give these cars a blast once a week?

Once a WEEK? Once a day is just SO much better!

 

[ringway]

My car was stood for a year before I bought it, which is probably a contributary factor to the smoking problem.

It is now as clean as a petrol engined car.

 

[Rory]

Once a WEEK? Once a day is just SO much better!

I only use it every few days!

 

[ringway]

Smoking!

A picture of my car, (this WAS a huge improvement compared to how it used to be) before my visit to Ian B. Walker at 124Works and the addition of the Forte additive.

The car is now smoke-free.