As I was researching what an Italian Tune-Up was on this forum, I came across a post where the author mentioned how much fun it was to give a tailgater a face full of exhaust by letting off the pedal, and then stomping on it, there in excreting out a pipe full of black exhaust onto the tailgater.
Well, after having success with my ITU, I felt pretty good about myself, and excited to be driving to work the next morning. Sure enough, on my way to work, a white Grand Am was riding my tail (not real close, but close enough that made me want to try the new trick I learned). So, I'm cruising down the road about 45, I let off the "gas", and stomp back down on it. But instead of the gas, I accidentally hit the brake pedal, lurching myself forward, and sending my sunglasses flying off my face. Although rattled, I make a quick recovery and thank my lucky stars I didn't get rear ended.
As I peered into my rear view mirror, an interesting question came to mind, is it still considered non-verbal communication if you can not hear what the person in the car behind you is saying?
Does the ITU also apply to newer model VW, like an 03 Jetta TDI?
Thanks,

Get your hearing checked, your lip reading!

As to black smoke, nah, the newer cars don't make smoke like the old ones did.

My 300D only makes a small puff if you floor it from a standstill.

The Volvo, on the other hand, when the EGR valve stuck open, would make a black cloud dense enough to stop traffic if you downshifted it.....

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I never would screw around with tailgaters like that (or other ways). Tailgaters are dangerous enough, why do anything to help them/increase their chances of becoming the butthole of your day?

If driving at a safe speed isn't fast enough for them, just pull off and let them pass on their way to find the next pileup.

BTW, I simply can not get my car to make the exhaust smoke even though I have PLENTY of power, no matter what I do. Is this a problem, or am I just lucky and have things adjusted correctly, like ALDA etc?

--CD

Install a simple smoke kit. Its simple to install and can make BIG clouds of smoke when needed.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

I have quite the opposite of the norm I guess. I can't make the '85 smoke, no matter how hard I romp.
The '80 on the other hand..... Except, it only smokes at idle or coasting to a stop. When cruising at decent rpm, or accelerating, doesn't smoke a bit. I guess at higher rpm's the engine can consume all the fuel, but not at lower rpm's. Must be a clue there somewhere.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Needless to say, I'm done screwing around with it. At least until I learn how to drive it. BTW, I got paid back in spades when I tried to unlock my trunk with the key, and the key broke off in the lock. So if anybody has a trunk lock mechanism that will fit an '84 300D, please let me know.
Thanks'
Andy

I used to do this with my 87 Jetta diesel, when morons would tailgate me around town. Just put it in 5th, floor it & watch the black smoke billow and the tailgaters back off!
Aivars

Ike - I have a trunk lock and key for $25.00 plus shipping from an 82 W123 I am parting out. Need anything else?


If it was easy everybody would do it!

junqueyardjim

I hate tail-gaters w/ a passion but after having a few nasty run-ins based on my attempts to tweak them, I've decided that it's not worth the potential grief.

Many times in the past, I'd just take my foot off the gas when they get up too close, no brake lights, just a gradual slowing. I've had a couple of guys follow me for a while, one getting onto city streets when I exited, and trying to exit and approach my vehicle at stop lights. I'm half of a tough guy, but I'm thinking there is no upside to tangling with some idiot who might be armed.

Another time, the guy was in a Dodge SUV, right up on my a$$ whilst I was in my Beemer, I did the slowdown thing, and the guy proceeds to try to play chicken with me for the next few miles, in relatively heavy freeway traffic. Again, no upside for me. A guy that's that big of an a$$ is not going to be taught a lesson by me tweaking him.

On top of all that, a woman I do some work for recently told me how her son-in-law was shot and killed by a road-rager who followed him home. I would never let a guy follow me home -- he must not have been paying attention, or maybe he never knew he had pissed the guy off, who knows, but, do what you want, I'm going to leave the jerks alone and just let 'em go by, as much as I'd like to pound them.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Addendum to my previous post:

I would especially not do anything annoying while driving in the state of California.

I tend to let anyone who needs to drive faster than me go by. Why? Becasue I already drive faster than many.....I'll let them run interfearance for any cops who might my laying in wait. That way they get pulled over and not me.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I hardly ever worry about the guy behind me. If I have to stop due to a legitimate traffic reason, the the tailgater has the problem.

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1984 300SD 326,997 miles and counting . . . No wait, my odometer is still dead

I second that method. It is very effective, and even better when you are covered from both the front and rear.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

If the driver behind you is jabbering on their cell phone, it can become your problem real quick.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

It seems as if I drive the same way as BHD. I drive faster than most, but when someone wants by, let 'em go! Every once in awhile I'll have an adrenaline rush and let the SDL do what she loves to do, WOT.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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