Peter,

For the past few days, I've been giving my car an "Italian tune-up" as you and others suggested and already it's made a dramatic difference! To see if there was any change, yesterday, I tried to start the cold engine without having to resort to an extra 20 second heating of the glow plugs and it started without smoking and only a slight engine miss.

Will throw in a bottle of Redline today when I fill the tank and continue to challenge the ricer cars.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it but I was always under the wrong impression that a diesel was supposed to belch black smoke on hard acceleration but now, I'm getting just a puff of smoke and it appears to be a brownish color but certainly it's not dark black like it was. Just goes to show you that ignorance is bliss and the education you and rest of the very helpful guys on this board have given me has really been appreciated.

Will keep you posted on my car's progress but the "Italian tune-up" suggestion sure seems to be the cure. Guess I've been babying her way too much.

Hope you were able to fix your starter problem and get your car running again.


Skip

TheVirginiaDude,

Really appreciate the update on the purge. It sounds like a viable alternative to use in the event the Redline I put in my tank a few days ago doesn't work. I fill up about every two weeks so it's a safe bet it will take about that long to see if it has any effect.

Since I've stopped driving like a little old lady and am now exercising the engine, on maximum acceleration, now there's only the slightest amount of smoke in the exhaust and it's a light brownish hue. On a cold engine start, there's minimal smoke but I still have a miss but hopefully that too will disappear if the Redline kicks in.

Will keep you posted.

Thanks,

Skip

TheVirginiaDude,

After reading the advertisement for BG 44K, I think that this product helps to clean out the combustion chambers (and hopefully get the carbon out of the pre-chambers too) unlike Red Line or Diesel Purge which focus on cleaning the fuel injectors. Since I've got new injectors, which didn't eliminate the problem, I'm beginning to think the pre-chambers are gunked up as many members have mentioned and maybe the BK will clean them out. My plan is if the Red Line doesn't help, I'm going to order a few cans of BG 44K and give it a try. At $20/can, hope it works!

Read the claims below and let me know what you think.

Skip

***

RED LINEŽ DIESEL FUEL CATALYST A combination of powerful high-temperature detergents, lubricants, and a combustion catalyst. This catalyst reduces smoke dramatically, reduces detonation, and improves fuel economy 4-8% based on fleet and dyno tests. The lubricants can reduce wear in low-sulfur fuel by 75%, prolonging injector and fuel pump life. Corrosion inhibitors will help prevent rust and corrosion.

BG 44K quickly and effectively cleans the entire fuel system, including injectors, intake valves, ports and combustion chamber. Because it provides efficient removal of upper engine deposits, BG 44K reduces problems caused by deposit build-up such as engine surge, stalling, stumble, hesitation and power loss. It is an excellent aid in tuning an engine since BG 44K quickly restores engine performance and improves drivability. BG 44K added to diesel fuel will provide quick clean-up of coked fuel injectors.

TheVirginiaDude,

I'm skeptical about many of these claims but it seems like the majority of people who have used BG 44K, to include yourself, have had good results with it. So next on the list before I take it to a mechanic will be to try a can of it.

Will keep you posted on the results.

Thanks,

Skip