Valver: exhaust smoke & overfuelling

[Ben H]

Just taken my Valver for some gentle exercise. Warmed up as normal and let the temperature rise over about ten miles to normal. No thrashing or anything.

Later as I was going out of a roundabout at low revs I notice a cloud of black smoke coming from my tailpipe - quite a lot in fact. I dont normally get black smoke at low revs; only usually when I blip the throttle at high revs. So being the scientific inquisitor I am, I took it straight to a dual carriageway for a thrash! Instead of the popping I would normally get if I revved the car and then blipped the throttle, I just got more of this soot and smoke!

I normally get some black smoke (I run a PBV and de-cat amongst other smoke-inducing parts), but this is just silly!

What would be causing this? Oil consumption seems normal and fuel consumption is fine. Overfuelling?

Help appreciated

 

[Turkish]

black normally = fuel and as you arent using oil thats the guess id make, my gtturbo used to kick out black sh*te and spit the occasional flame and that was all down to me running it rich as a detonation precation

 

[ivegota16v]

agreed, sounds like overfueling to me, sure the pbv hasnt had a fit??

 

[wongy008]

just where it aint been ran for a while i would assume

take it out for a good thrashing and it should be ok

its been sat at ya mates farm barn or something for ages aint it

 

[Ben H]

Yeah, it was at my mates farm for a month - but then I took it to London to see my girlfriend and drove back to Wales racing that Golf GT TDi all the way! So the sh*t should have cleared out by now?

 

[wongy008]

ok when was the fuelm pressure regulator set up

maybe just needs a bit fo fine tunning

 

[Ben H]

OK, cheers.

Any more ideas? Wheres BenR when you need him!?

 

[aaronc]

Ben H, hello mate

Mine has done this for two years now, if you remember i think it was you who noticed this at brands hatch?

Still havent found out whats causing it, it obviously is nothing serious as the cars performance is 2nd to none with no problems what so ever. It mostly happens when im de-acclerating, a puf of black/dark blue smoke will chuff out the back, enough for me to see in my rear view mirror.

First of all i thought it could be the oil in the plug wells which is not supposed to be there (common fault of the valver) caused by the gasket i believe, but i dont think its that.

I dont get the soot like you said in your post above just a puff on de-accerlerating. However this is only ever happened since i put the de-cat on which could be the main cause of it.

Ps...i still get the popping on de-acceleration

 

[Ben H]

Cheers Aaron

Yeah, I get the smoke and I think its mainly to do with the de-cat - I presume the cat would have previously caught the black smokey stuff. I said soot, but theres no real soot coming out, just the smoke.

I was just a bit wary as it was happening more than usual this evening, but I think youve put my mind at rest! Yes - I remember seeing the black smoke coming from your exhaust last November.

There will be a few bills I think soon and Ive lately just started to get a weeny bit of the dreaded arch rust. I was almost totally committed to selling up the Valver and getting another car in a few months (Fiat Coupe 20V T), but just taking the Valver out for a quick drive makes me think otherwise. The other thing is the cost - I could easily save up for a newer car now Im working, (just a bit on top of what Id get for the Valver) but theres so many other things to worry about now like saving for a deposit for a house and so on. Damn this accountant in me! Are you still a student mate?

 

[BenR]

lol....you should see my arches now......aye carumba!!

Anyway, yours always puffed massive amounts. Shouldnt be anything to worry about. But nxt time we meet i can run a simple diagnosis for you, old tech stylee!!!

 

[Ben H]

Cheers Ben!

Im officially a Bristolian no more now, although Ill be spending a few weeks at a time in Bristol with my job before Christmas and then every Friday for the next three years after that. Think you can fit me in some time?

Yeah, them arches of yours did look a bit sus when I saw the car - seemed as if theyd just been sanded and blown over. You have to have new panels to make sure it doesnt come back. Gulp.

 

[aaronc]

Luckily my arches havent started to go yet..... but my car wasnt a friday afternoon job like Benrs was it lol only kidding

ben my mum saw a house down your road the other day for sale, coul dbe your new neighbour lol

and yes BenH still a student, got 5 months left then yes getting a new car, but still keeping the valver, shes gonna be part of my fleet.

 

[BenR]

yea, but im not into looks 100%, but it will be nice to get them sorted.....just no money for that at the mo.

Just give us a bell when you want it done, ill see if i can fit you in.

 

[Ben H]

Lucky you Aaron! The only way I could afford a newer car would be to sell the Valver to fund it... and thats not going to happen.

The most cost-effective thing for me when I started work was to get the use of one of my parents cars as my dad now works abroad and theres always one of their Volvos not being used. So Ive got a nice, if not involving mega-spec S40 to drive to work for the time being.

Beyond that, it looks as if I really will have to buy my own car soon though. I fancy that a 3-year old Skoda Octavia or Superb 1.9 TD will be floating about for £3-4k when that becomes necessary. Im no badge snob, so Im happy to pay half-price for a VW Golf in drag.

 

[aaronc]

Yeah know what you mean.

Hopefully will have company car to start me off (if all goes well), so will be able to keep the clio on the road. It would be pointless me selling the valver now, ive had it for 5 years and spent alot of money on maintenence to throw it all away. Ive managed to scrape enough for a deposit on a flat so looks like ill be a life long member of cliosport lol