ML Smoking

[Farrowball]

Good Morning All

We have a 2010 ML300 141000 miles full MB history overall great car no problems whatsoever

However it has been stood for the last couple of months and went to use it yesterday but it has started smoking quite heavily

Could anyone on the forum shed any thought or opinion of why this could happen please

Appreciate any assistance in advance

Kind Regards

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hello and welcome . Is this the BlueEficiency Diesel engine ? When exactly does it smoke , on start up , acceleration ? What colour is the smoke ?

A bit more detail please .

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Colour of the smoke is important. Have you driven the car, any warning lights, does it drive differently, does the engine rev freely?

 

[Farrowball]

Good Afternoon

Many thanks for the swift responses

The car smokes after minute or so and virtually clears after 15-20 mins of driving

Yes Pete the car is a blue effiency diesel V6 engine

Bobby the car does not drive no differently to when it was in regular use no warning lights either the colour is a light grey in colour

Very strange as never had any issue when it was in regular use

Kind Regards

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Good Afternoon

Many thanks for the swift responses

The car smokes after minute or so and virtually clears after 15-20 mins of driving

Yes Pete the car is a blue effiency diesel V6 engine

Bobby the car does not drive no differently to when it was in regular use no warning lights either the colour is a light grey in colour

Very strange as never had any issue when it was in regular use

Kind Regards

If the smoke is black and there are no warning lights and it drives the same, then I would take it for a run. When it is fully up to normal operating temperature and stops smoking, do an Italian tune up, ie accelerate with your foot to the floor repeatedly. It will probably smoke again, but will eventually clear or at least reduce.

If there’s any sign that there’s a bigger or more serious issue then abort the Italian tune up, only do it if everything other than the black smoke is as it should be.

Out of interest, what’s the engine temperature when fully warmed up?

 

[Farrowball]

If the smoke is black and there are no warning lights and it drives the same, then I would take it for a run. When it is fully up to normal operating temperature and stops smoking, do an Italian tune up, ie accelerate with your foot to the floor repeatedly. It will probably smoke again, but will eventually clear or at least reduce.

If there’s any sign that there’s a bigger or more serious issue then abort the Italian tune up, only do it if everything other than the black smoke is as it should be.

Out of interest, what’s the engine temperature when fully warmed up?

 

[Farrowball]

Afternoon Bobby

Will try that tomorrow - the car sits at around 85deg but noticed that when it is smoking there is a strong smell associated with it
Let you know after the tune up

Thanks for your support

Kind Regards

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Afternoon Bobby

Will try that tomorrow - the car sits at around 85deg but noticed that when it is smoking there is a strong smell associated with it
Let you know after the tune up

Thanks for your support

Kind Regards

Very welcome. Fingers crossed it helps

 

[keith of kent]

Surely the car is doing a DPF regeneration?

 

[Farrowball]

Very welcome. Fingers crossed it helps

Morning Bobby

Took the car out early and carried out the “tuning” on a nice stretch of road
Started out slow and put in kickdown several times
It started smoking heavily for the first few runs but after that cleared its throat and was once again back to its old self
Temp climbed to 90 deg but other than that perfect
Thank you so much for the advice but just wondered if there is something in the cars electronics that after sitting a fair while it needs to have a decent run on its first outing

None the less thanks again

Kind Regards

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Morning Bobby

Took the car out early and carried out the “tuning” on a nice stretch of road
Started out slow and put in kickdown several times
It started smoking heavily for the first few runs but after that cleared its throat and was once again back to its old self
Temp climbed to 90 deg but other than that perfect
Thank you so much for the advice but just wondered if there is something in the cars electronics that after sitting a fair while it needs to have a decent run on its first outing

None the less thanks again

Kind Regards

Glad it worked out. Periodically doing an Italian tune up - especially immediately prior to an MOT - is not a bad idea, as long as the engine and gearbox are up to normally temperature.

Cars with DPFs really do benefit from stretching their legs on a longer journey, perhaps holding a lower gear on the motorway for a while to encourage a regen if one is due, or /simply to clear it’s throat.

It could have been caused by one of several things but I would say most likely a coincidence that it was so noticeable after having been standing for a while - cars don’t like not being used.

If a car is unused sone people start the engine, let it run for 10 minutes at idle and switch it off again. It’s not good for many reasons. Much better to not do that and take it for a drive every 3 weeks or so.

Let us know whether it returns