I drive a 75 300D running on b100. I got pulled over today on Fell Street at
Laguna.
I tried to explain to the motorcycle cop that my car is biodiesel and smokes
upon
excelleration, especially when I'm going uphill. He wasn't buying it and wrote
me a fix-it
ticket. Grrrrrrrr. Looks like I'll be taking her into the shop soon.
Anyone out there have any experience with a similar situation?
Did you fight it or fix it? What happened?
Thanks for any advice.

I'd find where the cop lives, put together a VERY long power point presentation about diesels, biodiesel, diesel emissions, and the like, and make him watch the whole thing, then ask him about the legitimacy of the ticket again.

I'd probably fight it, but it does sound like the car isn't running right. Is the timing/injection/valves all in spec? They usually only smoke like that if something's not right....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Get one of these and run it by him again.

But seriously, when have diesels ever been smoke-free? Are you required to have it smogged in SF? I've never had to smog any of my diesels, in fact I had to point out to the DMV rep that my E300 was a diesel when I registered it, after she asked to see the smog certificate.

__________________
99 E300 TD -- sold
01 540i 6 spd

I would fight it. Has he ever seen a Semi in his life? or is he a complete dumb ass

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

Diesels are smog tested via opacity in Denver and surrounding counties. I believe 40% opacity is the limit. If you're smoking enough for a cop to pull you over, something's not right. Have you tried changing your air filter?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

instead of fixing whatever it is, make a presentation and take it to the police station, tell them that b100 is cleaner then normal diesel etc...
screw the police....

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82' 300SD

There's no smog in CA for diesels....ironically.

What were the grounds for a ticket? He was probably on his way home...

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Going up some of those hills in SF your car won't EVER get out of first gear. Of course it going to smoke under that load.

You said it was a fix it ticket so I'd just warm it up first, do an Italian tune up or two, and then take it to the nearest police station that will examine it and show them in the parking lot that it is "cured" (at idle hopefully). If you have to raise the rpm, just do so gradually.

BioPower - I had to prove mine was as Diesel too when I first registered it here. Had to show DMV the emissions sitcker under the hood stating fuel type, door sill stickers, and the inside of the fuel filler to provide it didnt have an unleaded flapper. Gal refused to believe it was a diesel. Guess my idle was quieter back then....

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

It is nice to know the SFPD is busy enforcing laws like this but too busy to take reports for car burglaries and auto accidents.

Ha, ha, I drove on Geary under the Fillmore street overpass doing about 60 last night. It was real late at night, no traffic at all, and lots of fun.

It would be funny if you phoned a bomb threat into the donut shop at 10th and Clement!

Fight the ticket even if the SFPD cops get paid overtime for coming into court
It is bs, half of the SFPD lives in Novato anyway

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

lol, that "TURBODIESEL" emblem on the back must be purely a fashion statement....I mean, who doesn't want to drive a diesel??


That's pretty excessive, making you reveal EVERY SINGLE diesel emblem on the car. I just had to show them the diesel sticker under the hood...for the TDI, they didn't even give a rat's a$$ that it never met CA emissions for the 2004 model year.

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99 E300 TD -- sold
01 540i 6 spd

CA is even more messed up than I previously thought. Over here all they need is the VIN to tell whether it's a diesel or not. Regarding the smoke, unless you have very low compression on 1 or more cylinder, you can fix the problem and you should regardless of whether you've been pulled over. It's for the benefit of the engine and the air too. Have you tried adjusting the valves? IMO that's the most common cause of smoking old diesels, followed by dirty or worn out injectors. B100 can potentially carbonize the injector tips. If the valve adjustment doesn't improve the smoke, I'd go down to B50 and try some injector cleaner (B100 doesn't work well with injector cleaners). If that still doesn't help, maybe it's time to pull the injectors and test them. It also doesn't hurt to check the injection timing and timing chain stretch. Diesels don't smoke under normal driving conditions if they run properly.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I would also add that if you can fix your smoking problem and then go to court with the ticket and tell the judge you've fixed the problem, chances are good that the ticket will be dismissed. Did you get a fine with the ticket, or what exactly does it say?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

No fine involved as long as I get the problem fixed within a month. My 75 300D has always smoked a bit. The motorcycle cop was right behind me as I took off to go up the hill as the signal turned green. I guess he didn't like getting a facefull of b100 smoke. Maybe it smelled too much like donuts. He probably was making a quota and couldn't resist some low hanging fruit. Maybe he didn't dig my biodiesel no war required bumper sticker. Who knows. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time I guess.
Since I don't do my own work, no garage or place to work on it, I'll take it to the shop to fix.
No smog testing on old diesels here in CA luckily, but they can get you on CA V.C. 27153
Exhaust Products
No motor vehicle shall be operated in a manner resulting in the escape of excessive smoke, flame, gas, oil, or fuel residue.
The provisions of this section apply to motor vehicles of the United States or its agencies, to the extent authorized by federal law.
Amended Ch. 739, Stats. 1971. Operative May 3, 1972.

I think you nailed it.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Go fight it, most likley they will wave the fee if "the problem" has been fixed.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed