Sorry for the noob question, but my '77 240d is my first experience with diesels.

I am trying to discern what to do, if anything, about the smoke the car produces at idle and at hard acceleration. I know smoke is endemic to older diesels, but what I am seeing is a touch on the excessive if excessive means that I am uncomfortable with what I am seeing when I sit at a stoplight. It isn't oil smoke, just plain ol smoke like my car is smoking a big stogie. The car runs pretty good otherwise.

I've done some searching around but am wondering if the term 'blowby' that is often used means the same thing as 'smoke coming out of the tailpipe' (and sometimes from the general area of the engine compartment).

And if you are feeling really generous, maybe you could point me to some good threads on troubleshooting smoke?

thanks.