Hello
I have a 81 300D.I have smoking issue...... I am wondering if it is fuel.I did a purge,and the engine ran on the stuff like a champ,the minute it got tank fuel...sssssmoking,irregular idle etc etc.Guys think it is fuel or injector?Appreciate any help
Z

Possibly knocked some crud loose... into an injector(s).

You will get plenty of responses here shortly, so don't bet my guess is accurate.

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raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

Sorry maybe I wasn't clear.The reason for the "purge"was sssmoking.It just ran perfectly on the stuff,that I am questioning if I have "bad"fuel....

You could have bad fuel, or something else could be wrong.

for the fuel, change the fuel filter..now. It doesn't matter if you think you did it recently as it's not always a matter of milage or time. I've had to change a filter within a few hundred yards of buying a tank of fuel.

There is always a possibility for receiving bad fuel at the pump. It could have water in it, or be dirty. The best preventative is to only buy fuel at high volume stations that pump a lot of diesel and hence receive new frequently. Even then, if the station tank is low and yours comes from the bottom it could be contaminated.

That your car runs good on the purge product indicates dirty or watered fuel to me.

If you're in a cold climate other bad things can happen to your fuel.

Fuel sitting for a while can begin to grow fungus that will clog filters and systems also.

It's all part of life with diesel and I'd recommend a basic study of the factors involved. The days of simply gassing up without a care are over for you.

i would get diesel fuel treatment and fungicide and put it in the tank and as noted above change fuel filters and see if that helps.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

OK guys,thank you for the advise.When I connected the fuel line after the "purge"it ran OK for about 2 minutes,and then all over again smoke and rough idle.

Startron enzyme & PS Diesel Kleen (grey) are my engines best friends... actually I finally beat the critters in my tank, so I don't run the startron too much anymore.

I also have a source of hydraulic fluid so I usually run some of that too.

With additives, valves properly adjusted and the engine temp >80C I'd hope to see alot less smoke.

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Cheers,
Robert

zbyz, it really does sound like you've got a tank of fuel that's indigestable - no good, for whichever reason. Sometimes it's necessary to get it out of the tank and replace it with known good. Not doing that could negate any filtering or purging effort you make. Sometimes you can't make the fuel good enough.

Ummmm, there's absolutely NO chance of having put gasoline in your tank, right? Please don't take offense at the suggestion, it has happened to some very old diesel hands.

You haven't said where you are but generally a good fuel additive to mix with the fuel in the tank at each fillup coupled with a carefully done purge or two using the seperate products designed for that will cure most any problem such as yours as long as the engine and component parts are operating within normal parameters.

It sounds by the fact that you WERE able to obtain good running, even if only for a short time, that all is more or less well with your car but it's fuel has problems.

I know that much of this is now redundant but go to most any auto parts store and buy a gallon of the diesel fuel additive they stock. Brand names are less important than whether it has phrases like "fights fungus" - "removes water" - "raises cetone" and "cleans systems" inclusive printed loudly on the label. That's something you want to use at all times.

The "Diesel Purge" products are so labeled and they are a one time treatment usually not added to the fuel in the tank but instead added into the fuel system by using the stuff to fill a new filter before installation or other method as specified in the packaging.

Since you know how to perform a purge, and because you're concerned that the quality of the fuel in the tank might be the problem, why not eliminate the fuel tank? Hook up a small container of fresh new diesel like you did with the purge, and see if that provides any useful results.

If this helps, you're only out the value of the crappy fuel that's already in the tank.

1984 300d Turbo 137k
Instal A Water Separator And Filter Kit From **************.com $119.00 Clamps, 2 Page Guide, Filter, Mounting Kit, Bolts, Nuts, Hose Use Can Of Diesel Purge To Fill Filter Before Starting, Less Smoke And More Power 1 Hr Diy Like New Car Again.

Go out and get a 1-2 gallon fuel tank (or an empty 1gallon oil jug) and fill it with fresh diesel from a different fuel station. Run it like diesel purge and see if there is a difference.

If it runs better, I'd bite the bullet and drain the fuel tank, clean the tank strainer and fill from someplace else from now on.

If there is no change from the tank diesel, I'd look at valve adjustment, timing chain stretch, injection pump timing, and mabye an bad injector(s).

Thanks guys
I hooked up a little diesel tank,like a purge,and the engine ran a lot smoother with a little smoke,abut not as bad as from the tank.Do you guys think I can get away with adding something to the tank or do I have to remove the tank and clean it?
Z

It MIGHT actually be air. What color is the smoke?

(Still, my money is on bad fuel.)

Color is bluish grey and stinks DIESEL

Did the car run without smoking before this fillup? My 240D with horrible compression ran great, without smoke on diesel purge, but smoked on diesel. The smoke was blue/gray and smelled just like you described. If the car ran fine before, then disregard my post. If it always smoked look at injectors, IP timing, and compression.

Glenn