diesel anti-smoke

[pinback2001]

Has anybody had any experience of these commercially available anti-smoke preparations for diesels? I assume that they will just do a basic clean of the injectors.

[E_T_V]

The only way to clean your injectors thoroughly is to have them professionally ultrasonically cleaned. I will be using millers diesel additive to give mine a little bit of a clean but so long as it passes the emissions I'd not worry too much.

[J199 HHG]

My Rover 200 Diesel failed the MOT on emissions (i.e. >3%)
A combination of Comma Diesel Injector Cleaner (or whatever they call it), and a really good thrashing (5500RPM) in each gear got it down to about 0.5%.

But I can't say whether it was the Cleaner or the driving style....

Chris.

[e692wtt]

Originally posted by J199 HHG
My Rover 200 Diesel failed the MOT on emissions (i.e. >3%)
A combination of Comma Diesel Injector Cleaner (or whatever they call it), and a really good thrashing (5500RPM) in each gear got it down to about 0.5%.

But I can't say whether it was the Cleaner or the driving style....




Millers' additive, as referred to above, is good stuff. But it's the 'thrash round the block' that clears out the accumulated carbon from the exhaust that is usually only disturbed at MoT time (not many people thrash a diesel engine the same as it is thrashed for the MoT...) and thus blows out causing the car to fail its exhaust emissions test. If you can clear this carbon out before the MoT the car will pass the exhaust test, unless there is summat actually wrong with the engine (eg Injectors worn out, poor spray pattern etc).

The additive will reduce the amount of carbon particles emitted by the engine in the longer term, so the engine will emit less 'diesel smoke' (and less will accumulate in the exhaust etc etc) as well as running more efficiently, but I would recommend the 'blast round the block' routine before the MoT anyway to ensure the car gives of its best in the exhaust emissions test.

[E_T_V]

My 200k mile campervan (non turbo) passed the emissions with flying colours, 1.48, with the limit being 2.5. Once you've warmed up the engine, (and you know the cam belt and the maximum engine speed are correct) floor the throttle up a hill in say second until the governor kick in and the car stops accellerating. Hold this for a second or two and repeat as necesarry to clear the crap out of the system. In the MOT they floor the throttle until the goverener kicks in as part of the test.

[SteveC]

Originally posted by E_T_V
The only way to clean your injectors thoroughly is to have them professionally ultrasonically cleaned. I will be using millers diesel additive to give mine a little bit of a clean but so long as it passes the emissions I'd not worry too much.

I always use Millers... as I think I've said elsewhere on here recently, my mechanic recommends throwing in half a bottle of it in a couple of days before the car is going for its MOT, and make sure you give the car a good thrashing on the journey to the MOT station.

Someone else has recommended to me getting the engine nice and warm, and then fit a new fuel filter... but before you fit the new filter, brim it with Millers etc., then start the car and floor it until the smoke clears.

He reckons this works on all but the most knackered injectors, but obviously you might want to make sure your cambelt etc., is up to it before trying this method.

With regards to all of these injector cleaners, I've always been a bit sceptical about them, because whilst I've noticed most diesels I've dropped it in tend to run a bit better with it in, it might be more to do with the fact most are petroleum based, and thus are increasing the octane of the fuel, rather than any cleaning of the injectors etc., they may or may not be doing.