Three wee questions...

[axam102]

Hi guys hope you are all well. Have a few questions that I hope you may be able to help on.
I have a 2002 2.4 duratec rwd and just wondered the following.
I'm changing oil and filter tomorrow with shell helix HX7. I do few miles (less than 3000 per 6 months) as its a van for transporting dogs for racing and camping. Haynes manual says oil change at 6 month intervals, this is the best oil change frequency do you agree?
The van has 300,000 on the clock and when I got it no smoke but recently she has given a puff of grey on start and under load (is on turbo uphill ) you cant see it in daylight but at night in car headlights you can (un-burnt fuel?) she starts on the key and no Hunting on at idle suggesting compression is okay. Fuel consumption is pretty good and she pulls like a trooper. I'm just worried that I will make more problems if I carry on running with a fuel problem. I have put a couple of fuel treatments through and used the most expensive fuel i can find but still get the puffs of smoke... I'm worried it's injectors as I just saw the price of them...

[knobby1]

2.4 Duratec..?? Methinks you mean Duratorq, Duratec is the petrol engine.

If she's done 300k there's a chance the injectors may be past their best. Have you had them checked by a reputable diesel specialist..??

Lord Knobrot

[ned]

I try and do a service every 6k, make sure you use 5 W30 oil and change air filter and fuel filter, if it's only white/grey smoke on start up then it's most likely the glow plugs are shot.

If it's running fine then I would not mess with the injectors as the di is a bitch to bleed the air out off, you could do a leak back test and see what health the injectors are at (do tddi's have the same test as tdci's ?)

[axam102]

2.4 Duratec..?? Methinks you mean Duratorq, Duratec is the petrol engine.

If she's done 300k there's a chance the injectors may be past their best. Have you had them checked by a reputable diesel specialist..??

Lord Knobrot

Sorry mate I meant the Duratorq, (knob head alert) no i haven't if you think that is the best course of action I will follow that. I'm just a bit confused as she runs like a dream and pulls so well. starts on the key cold and warm and is a dream to drive.

[bambi mk 1]

Knobby and Ned either dont use their mirrors or go out at night as all diesels will show smoke in the headlights of cars behind If it aint broke dont fix it or be like Ned if its fixed try hard to break it Change you oil and filters at 10k and go on holiday with the money you save

[axam102]

I try and do a service every 6k, make sure you use 5 W30 oil and change air filter and fuel filter, if it's only white/grey smoke on start up then it's most likely the glow plugs are shot.

If it's running fine then I would not mess with the injectors as the di is a bitch to bleed the air out off, you could do a leak back test and see what health the injectors are at (do tddi's have the same test as tdci's ?)

Thanks mate, will get them changed and see if that helps. appreciate your advise

[knobby1]

2.4 Duratec..?? Methinks you mean Duratorq, Duratec is the petrol engine.

If she's done 300k there's a chance the injectors may be past their best. Have you had them checked by a reputable diesel specialist..??

Lord Knobrot

Sorry mate I meant the Duratorq, (knob head alert) no i haven't if you think that is the best course of action I will follow that. I'm just a bit confused as she runs like a dream and pulls so well. starts on the key cold and warm and is a dream to drive.

Do as Ned suggests and get a leak-off test done, this will give a good idea of their general health.....apart from that, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Lord Knobrot.

[bambi mk 1]

2.4 Duratec..?? Methinks you mean Duratorq, Duratec is the petrol engine.

If she's done 300k there's a chance the injectors may be past their best. Have you had them checked by a reputable diesel specialist..??

Lord Knobrot

Sorry mate I meant the Duratorq, (knob head alert) no i haven't if you think that is the best course of action I will follow that. I'm just a bit confused as she runs like a dream and pulls so well. starts on the key cold and warm and is a dream to drive.

Do as Ned suggests and get a leak-off test done, this will give a good idea of their general health.....apart from that, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Lord Knobrot.

How do you do a leakoff test on tddi injectors

[axam102]

Knobby and Ned either dont use their mirrors or go out at night as all diesels will show smoke in the headlights of cars behind If it aint broke dont fix it or be like Ned if its fixed try hard to break it Change you oil and filters at 10k and go on holiday with the money you save

with you on the oil change, you think its normal to blow a bit of diesel under load? sorry I only know petrol engines
I read somewhere that i could blow a piston with unburnt fuel... not the most flush of people and absolutely love driving the transit. it's not a work horse and gets a pretty light life. but it would hit pretty hard if she failed

[bambi mk 1]

Knobby and Ned either dont use their mirrors or go out at night as all diesels will show smoke in the headlights of cars behind If it aint broke dont fix it or be like Ned if its fixed try hard to break it Change you oil and filters at 10k and go on holiday with the money you save

with you on the oil change, you think its normal to blow a bit of diesel under load? sorry I only know petrol engines
I read somewhere that i could blow a piston with unburnt fuel... not the most flush of people and absolutely love driving the transit. it's not a work horse and gets a pretty light life. but it would hit pretty hard if she failed

Try driving another diesel at night and see what happens but its the reason why the tree huggers are trying to ban diesels

[axam102]

Knobby and Ned either dont use their mirrors or go out at night as all diesels will show smoke in the headlights of cars behind If it aint broke dont fix it or be like Ned if its fixed try hard to break it Change you oil and filters at 10k and go on holiday with the money you save

with you on the oil change, you think its normal to blow a bit of diesel under load? sorry I only know petrol engines
I read somewhere that i could blow a piston with unburnt fuel... not the most flush of people and absolutely love driving the transit. it's not a work horse and gets a pretty light life. but it would hit pretty hard if she failed

Try driving another diesel at night and see what happens but its the reason why the tree huggers are trying to ban diesels

LOL thanks mate so if not in immediate danger dont worry? as long as i dont hurt the engine the tree huggers can swing for one

[axam102]

would flicking a clippo out the window sort the tree hunger problem?

[knobby1]

Knobby and Ned either dont use their mirrors or go out at night as all diesels will show smoke in the headlights of cars behind If it aint broke dont fix it or be like Ned if its fixed try hard to break it Change you oil and filters at 10k and go on holiday with the money you save

Oh mine does if I tramp it at night and there's a car behind, I can see the smoke in my mirrors....I think all diesels smoke to some degree....it's just the way rhey are.
That's why I said "if it ain't broke etc..."

Lord Knobrot

[ned]

Its a TDDI you can't hurt the engine (unless the chain jumps) it's them mk7 that have chocolate pistons

Bambi why do you want to see behind I looked in the mirrors once its wasn't a pretty sight

[bambi mk 1]

Bambi why do you want to see behind I looked in the mirrors once its wasn't a pretty sight

Was it bjt Thats why I use my mirrors Ned