My old girl is lethargic, and chucking out black smoke under load - 1988 2.5

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9chesh

Active Member
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Ok I have searched the forum for a thread that answers my question, but being a novice - I couldn't see an exact match...

My trusty old defender felt sluggish on the way to work this morning, and I noticed that under load it started chucking out black smoke. Is fine when tootling along, but as soon as the revs increase the smoke starts.

It's always been an effort to start, normally taking around 10 turnovers before it fires up accompanied by a few chugs of black smoke, but the smoke normally clears as soon as you get moving....

...not today tho

Any suggestions?

Turbo? Egr valve?

Thanks in advance

Chris
 
you said its an 88 2.5, so I assumed its an N/A

what engine has it got, if its N/A or T/D there is no EGR.
If its a TDI id check timing, they should start up pretty easily.
T/D check the wastegate is free.
 
if its the original engine it may be time to swap. they are brilliant upto the point where they go out in great style. mine was doing the same as yours is now it was a 89 td so thought it was time to drop a tdi in. best decision i ever made
 
Ooooooo was trying to avoid that at all costs!!

Any other things I could check that may be less sinister?
 
how many miles on the clock, an old 19J probably just old age/wear and tear, check the turbo incase its leaking alot, but I think youd have noticed it revving by itself if that were the case.
 
When was the last time you serviced it? Hard to start might just be glow plugs, mines a '88 with 98k on the clock, I keep thinking of an engine swap but but can't be bothered whilst it's running OMK
 
Ok just checked some of the easy stuff first...

Took out air filter as it was black and clogged with oil and leaves.
Ran it up and down the m50 and it seems 80% better! only smoking a little now under load on the hills, certainly not the blooms of smoke I was suffering yesterday.

Am I right in saying black fuel = over fuelling?

If so, am I right in saying it rules out the turbo being an issue?

Could the injectors perhaps be partly to blame ?

Thanks in advance

Chris
 
timtheenchanteruk said:
how many miles on the clock, an old 19J probably just old age/wear and tear, check the turbo incase its leaking alot, but I think youd have noticed it revving by itself if that were the case.
Click to expand...


120k now, and I do seem to be getting black smoke leakage from the point around the turbo exit (waste gate?)

Excuse the poor terminology, am a real novice but am trying to get my head around it all!
 
9chesh said:
Ok I have searched the forum for a thread that answers my question, but being a novice - I couldn't see an exact match...

My trusty old defender felt sluggish on the way to work this morning, and I noticed that under load it started chucking out black smoke. Is fine when tootling along, but as soon as the revs increase the smoke starts.

It's always been an effort to start, normally taking around 10 turnovers before it fires up accompanied by a few chugs of black smoke, but the smoke normally clears as soon as you get moving....

...not today tho

Any suggestions?

Turbo? Egr valve?

Thanks in advance

Chris
Click to expand...

Like the others say, try all service items, filters, tappets, oil change. My 2.5 td starts very first compression, any temperature. Check glow plugs and a thorough service would be first point of call re starting!

Turbocharger will very likely be tired at that mileage, might be worth a recon turbo if all else seems good. These don't have an EGR valve, personally I wouldn't have the breathers going into the intake at all, but I don't think that will be causing your problem.
 
9chesh said:
120k now, and I do seem to be getting black smoke leakage from the point around the turbo exit (waste gate?)

Excuse the poor terminology, am a real novice but am trying to get my head around it all!
Click to expand...

exit on exhaust side or inlet side?
if its the inlet side youll be loosing boost which wont help
 
Sorted!!!

Thought I'd post the solution on here incase anyone else has a similar problem...

The turbo intake hose was collapsing on itself when the revs built up!

Really relieved... Much cheaper than the other possible causes I was expecting
 
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