How smokey or otherwise is your diesel?
 

How smokey before you are embarrass to drive the car? All old diesel smokes a bit but how bad is bad? What is acceptable and what is not?

For Example: Bad!
 

This is what you'd call a bad example:

Mercedes 200D Start - YouTube

However, it has sat for 12 years prior to this, and is very badly adjusted / a little bit broken.

Also, my neighbours don't care. And if I could get it registered in it's current state, which is nearly impossible in Germany, or anywhere else I would drive it a bit, just for fun.

Just had my daughter's 84 SD emission tested. 8% opacity at 60mph, 10% at 50mph, 6% at 40mph.

My 83 SD only has visible smoke at cold start and when floored. 195K mi. That's probably better than average though (I'm lucky there). I think some smoke on acceleration and startup is pretty normal for these.

What does this mean? Car is moving or stationary on a dyno?

I suspect my car has low compression I think. Little blow by and oil cap does not dance. It is not black smoke but a slight white haze. It is not a smoke machine so to speak. I just want to get some opinions on what is considered normal or acceptable. All my working ( some are not ) diesels smoke, just a matter of how much.:P

On a dyno. It's the standard emissions test in CO. Put the vehicle on a dyno, drive at different speeds and shine a light thru the exhaust.

Car had been sitting for over a year, with 311K miles on it: 190D exhaust - YouTube
Not bad I would assume. Needs all new fluids and filters, might have close to no smoke then

Answer
 

I am never embarrassed by diesel smoke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slkQ7zSWMkI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07a0SbeFmEg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW3C1AYQLnI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhxsN7HGo2Y&NR=1

or tire smoke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDtILVplrSk


This is terribly sad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubWlNpokKTI


.

The smoking is similar, a bit less than this at idle. OK-ish, not embarrassed?

When I first got my euro 300d, I was reported for to much smoke. I got a nice letter from the state of California. When I got it, I remember it smoked so bad you couldn't even see the car when you floored it...Had a cop follow me for blocks attempting to figure out a way to pull me over....I liked the attention :-)

My 83 300D T with 298k has no visible smoke from a cold start unless I shine a light on it. Such a sweet running and sounding engine- I love it! Oh I should mention, its last 80k was on veg too. If I floor it when on the road, I see a little black smoke in the rear view, which is normal.

I have noticed that all mine and my brothers cars smoke a little as well. The use of veg oil will cause a little more smoke than with pump Diesel.

78 smokes a bit at over 200k
82 I had sit for 6 months started and no smoke at all. And somehow magicly had much reduced blow by! Guess a ring freed or something.
81 smoke son start but I know it has marginal injectors COmpression is good. Need to get the injectors rebuilt.

Hi Rich, I do not think Veggie or D#2 make a difference. I think the engine are all tired with many many K miles.

Ok
 

That sounds like low average smoke = you have a good engine.


***
Today; I sent away a young fellow that came by with a 1992 300D 2.5 turbo, worn out engine (smoking like this when warm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP8KCp9PJjU
it had 800,000 (salt) miles (Chicago/Detroit).
The engine uses one quart of oil every 50 miles. :eek:
Cold start (three glows) with NEW glow plugs, cranking is roughly 35 seconds + the white smoke (unburnt fuel) covers two acres before it builds enough heat to fire. :eek:

He thought I could fix it with some miracle oil additive, under $100.00 USD.
The previous owner rebuilt the turbo, injectors, injection pump, new oil pump, good used crankshaft, new rod/main bearings, new cylinder head, new timing chain and tensioner.
I called the shop where the work was done, and they did recommend rings and sleeves, but owner declined "60,000 miles ago". :eek:

Current Compression numbers dry:
#1. 212 psi.
#2. 200 psi.
#3. 200 psi.
#4. 190 psi.
#5. 200 psi.
:(

Current Compression numbers wet:
#1. 222 psi.
#2. 210 psi.
#3. 210 psi.
#4. 200 psi.
#5. 210 psi.
:(

My diagnosis: Rings and sleeves are worn out, and must be replaced.
Doubtful the engine will be repaired due to cost. :(

.