GU blowing BLACK SMOKE

[grubkenbel]

Hi,
Well before I go out and pay $600 on a new MAF sensor I would like to know everyones opinion on why my GU is still blowing black smoke.

Heres the run down so far:

Had all 4 injectors replaced in August 2012 as well as the Turbo.

Car started playing up by losing power. So cleaned the MAF Sensor. Which helped a bit with the power loss but now seems to have gone back to shitty power.

GU blows black smoke 3/4 of the time when normal driving on gear changes. and when overtaking vehicles or generally just putting foot on accelerator.

My question is could it be the MAF sensor or pistons and how could I tell if it is the pistons?

I have a scan tool and the only codes it brings up from time to time is the blocked EGR.
no other codes come up.

Please help I dont want to waste $600 if that wont fix the issue.

The Car is a 2007 GU 3.0ltr turbo diesel. Its done 155,600 kms
Has a roof basket, 3 inch lift, 305x75 r 16 Mickey thompson ttc's.
Bullbar driving lights, so am assuming its not too much about the weight of the truck causing the smoke or am I wrong?

[gu town]

My knowledge of ZD's is limited but some simple diesel specific things to check,

Assuming you've done the obvious air cleaner change, I'd be looking for boost leaks such as a split intercooler or loose hose clamps. Even a farked turbo.


Be careful your EGT's will be high ATM.

[DuneDog]

Worse case could be the piston rings. The 3lt's are not called 'grenades' for nothing. Is it a late model 2007, as the CRD came in late 2007. If CRD may be something with the common rail. Again may not be a cheap fix for the common rail system.

As far as your question goes for a cheap check - try a leak down compression test. Start with no. 4, they can be the troublesome ones. That will help tell if ring are letting oil past. Be sure to ask for a 'leak down' test not just a compression test.

Let us know how you get on.

[grubkenbel]

Worse case could be the piston rings. The 3lt's are not called 'grenades' for nothing. Is it a late model 2007, as the CRD came in late 2007. If CRD may be something with the common rail. Again may not be a cheap fix for the common rail system.

As far as your question goes for a cheap check - try a leak down compression test. Start with no. 4, they can be the troublesome ones. That will help tell if ring are letting oil past. Be sure to ask for a 'leak down' test not just a compression test.

Let us know how you get on.

ok well ordered new MAF Sensor it turned up yesterday just put it in then and noticed a quite considerable amount of black soot under the bonnet on the passenger side. pretty thick not on motor but near turbo and oil filter etc and on the pipes on that side of the car.
Now my question is what is that caused by?

The manifold gasket needs to be redone, thats getting done in feb. However it has smoked everyday for a couple of weeks now hence the reason I just put the new MAf Sensor in. Would this have caused the balck soot stuff or is it something totally different?
am sick of this car have had nothing but dramas with it. LEMON.

[GaryP]

Before anything bad happens you should take it and have it professionally tuned. Running the bigger tyres and having accessories will make the motor work harder but you it should not make the motor smoke excessivley. Have a look at your intercooler for oil residue you may have low boost if your intercooler major leak.

[grubkenbel]

Before anything bad happens you should take it and have it professionally tuned. Running the bigger tyres and having accessories will make the motor work harder but you it should not make the motor smoke excessivley. Have a look at your intercooler for oil residue you may have low boost if your intercooler major leak.

I live in a remote bush location but have a local repco authorised dealer so what sort of tests?
I was thinking of putting it in for a compression test

[gu town]

Worse case could be the piston rings. The 3lt's are not called 'grenades' for nothing. Is it a late model 2007, as the CRD came in late 2007. If CRD may be something with the common rail. Again may not be a cheap fix for the common rail system.

As far as your question goes for a cheap check - try a leak down compression test. Start with no. 4, they can be the troublesome ones. That will help tell if ring are letting oil past. Be sure to ask for a 'leak down' test not just a compression test.

Let us know how you get on.

burning oil would produce white smoke I reckon.


I think over fuelling or under boosting for the black smoke.

Leaky manifold could cause a lack of air pressure at the intake manifold.

As mentioned I'm only guessing as I have no experience with ZD's. Hope you sort it mate..

[76 Tourer]

^^ X 2

Sounds like boost leak from turbo/intercooler/inlet some where

[DuneDog]

Worse case could be the piston rings. The 3lt's are not called 'grenades' for nothing. Is it a late model 2007, as the CRD came in late 2007. If CRD may be something with the common rail. Again may not be a cheap fix for the common rail system.

As far as your question goes for a cheap check - try a leak down compression test. Start with no. 4, they can be the troublesome ones. That will help tell if ring are letting oil past. Be sure to ask for a 'leak down' test not just a compression test.

Let us know how you get on.

burning oil would produce white smoke I reckon.


I think over fuelling or under boosting for the black smoke.

Leaky manifold could cause a lack of air pressure at the intake manifold.

As mentioned I'm only guessing as I have no experience with ZD's. Hope you sort it mate..

Yup I agree, but the dude was asking how to check if it was the pistons.

Have you serviced it lately, changed your oil, filters or changed anything? If so it could be something simple being overfilled with oil or too thick an oil or stuffed filter or something like that - don't laugh I've seen it happen. Can always be good to retrace your steps of things that may have been touched/changed since just before you noticed it blowing.

and yeah what these guys said, check your hoses for vacuum leaks that may throw boost out.

The mani is a good idea. It may even idle hunt a bit if it is the mani as the MAF tries to add a bit of fuel and take a bit to compensate for the leak in the mani. You should be able to stop the viscus fan by holding it, or better yet get a mate to do it and then get some light paper, like a tissue and move it slowly around the mani to see if it moves and this will help tell you if there is a problematic leak.

[johnsie]

Which manifold were you getting resealed, intake or exhaust?
Where is the soot under the bonnet coming from? If its from the exhaust manifold pre turbo you'll be losing boost and efficiency. As previously said air filter, fuel filter. You said your out bush, drop the bung in each fuel tank and check for water and sediment. One last question is it when under load or does it happen when you free rev it aswell? Ie in neutral.
Keep us posted johnsy

[grubkenbel]

Which manifold were you getting resealed, intake or exhaust?
Where is the soot under the bonnet coming from? If its from the exhaust manifold pre turbo you'll be losing boost and efficiency. As previously said air filter, fuel filter. You said your out bush, drop the bung in each fuel tank and check for water and sediment. One last question is it when under load or does it happen when you free rev it aswell? Ie in neutral.
Keep us posted johnsy

intake manifold.
however im thinking it may be exhaust manifold gasket.

I did an oil change on it yesterday, replaced oil filter and oil.

I also put a genuine air filter back in it because when i first bought it they put an after market piece of shit in it.

their also seems to be oil sitting on top of the turbo where the gasket sits (however this turbo was new in august)

They want 1200 to 1300 to replace the gasket and remachine it. They said it would probably be warped.

How hard a job is this to do and would the studs be rooted for lack of a nicer word lol

I pulled the intercooler off and cleaned all of that and there was only a little bit of black crap in it. After the oil change I noticed the smoke was still there however it was less than before.

The smoke puffs happen when your foot goes on the accelerator. Getting up to speed and also sitting their in neutral when you give it a little bit. It doesnt happen when just sitting in neutral with no foot on the accelerator.

[grubkenbel]

Which manifold were you getting resealed, intake or exhaust?
Where is the soot under the bonnet coming from? If its from the exhaust manifold pre turbo you'll be losing boost and efficiency. As previously said air filter, fuel filter. You said your out bush, drop the bung in each fuel tank and check for water and sediment. One last question is it when under load or does it happen when you free rev it aswell? Ie in neutral.
Keep us posted johnsy

Hey Johnsy

Replaced oil filter and fuel filter and air filter already made not much difference
Will definately do the fuel tanks however as i didnt think of them. If there is water in the diesel out here what can be done to rectify it? treatments etc

I fill up at a caltex sevo and last week i ended up filling up 4 jerry cans with diesel and i opened them up to have a look for any sediment etc and low and behold there are floaties in the jerry cans. there is only one other place to get diesel from and thats the bp so might have to fill up there from now on.

I just find it peculiar that the gasket has needed doing for 4 months now and its only been the last month that its been blowing black smoke so thought it had to be something else not that entirely.

Am sick of spending money on this friggen lemon.
Closest place i can get it dynoed is 4.5 hours away.

Then low and behold yesterday I go to local dodgy mechanic who has no friggen clue about much, I ask him if he has any copper sump plug gaskets and guess what he tries to give me................................................................................................................................................................a friggen stainless steel washer 3 times too big for the bolt.

So when I
go to roma next I will be buying a box of the copper gaskets. Bloody dodgy bast###'s

[grubkenbel]

Worse case could be the piston rings. The 3lt's are not called 'grenades' for nothing. Is it a late model 2007, as the CRD came in late 2007. If CRD may be something with the common rail. Again may not be a cheap fix for the common rail system.

As far as your question goes for a cheap check - try a leak down compression test. Start with no. 4, they can be the troublesome ones. That will help tell if ring are letting oil past. Be sure to ask for a 'leak down' test not just a compression test.

Let us know how you get on.

burning oil would produce white smoke I reckon.


I think over fuelling or under boosting for the black smoke.

Leaky manifold could cause a lack of air pressure at the intake manifold.

As mentioned I'm only guessing as I have no experience with ZD's. Hope you sort it mate..

Yup I agree, but the dude was asking how to check if it was the pistons.

Have you serviced it lately, changed your oil, filters or changed anything? If so it could be something simple being overfilled with oil or too thick an oil or stuffed filter or something like that - don't laugh I've seen it happen. Can always be good to retrace your steps of things that may have been touched/changed since just before you noticed it blowing.

and yeah what these guys said, check your hoses for vacuum leaks that may throw boost out.

The mani is a good idea. It may even idle hunt a bit if it is the mani as the MAF tries to add a bit of fuel and take a bit to compensate for the leak in the mani. You should be able to stop the viscus fan by holding it, or better yet get a mate to do it and then get some light paper, like a tissue and move it slowly around the mani to see if it moves and this will help tell you if there is a problematic leak.

the CHICK lol

[johnsie]

Whats lead you to want to change the intake manifold gasket?

if there's soot under the bonnet you definetly have an exhaust leak somewhere. I know Nissan genuine parts are pretty hexy but I wouldn't be paying 1300 to have an ex gasket replaced, that said I'm a diesel mechanic. I'm not too sure on the zd30s mate, I know I once resealed a td42 ex manifold that had been loose for 2000 kays and loaded to the gunnales with no machining. The biggest drama you'll have is broken seized studs as these will be a nuisance to remove. If you can get them all out I thoroughly recommend replacing all the studs and nuts, also use an anti sieze of some description on reassembly and recheck the torque.

As for the fuel another prefilter would help, one with a convienent water trap and cheap elements would be best. If the fuel has black death, a fungus that grows in the fuel, you can get treatment for that which kills it off. Be warned though if its in your tanks your going to go through a lot of filters before its clean again. When you changed the fuel filter how much floaty nasties were in the seperator bowl?

[DuneDog]

.......
the CHICK lol

Lol my bad

[gu town]

.......
the CHICK lol

Lol my bad

Hehehe normally a safe bet. unlucky!

[grubkenbel]

Whats lead you to want to change the intake manifold gasket?

if there's soot under the bonnet you definetly have an exhaust leak somewhere. I know Nissan genuine parts are pretty hexy but I wouldn't be paying 1300 to have an ex gasket replaced, that said I'm a diesel mechanic. I'm not too sure on the zd30s mate, I know I once resealed a td42 ex manifold that had been loose for 2000 kays and loaded to the gunnales with no machining. The biggest drama you'll have is broken seized studs as these will be a nuisance to remove. If you can get them all out I thoroughly recommend replacing all the studs and nuts, also use an anti sieze of some description on reassembly and recheck the torque.

As for the fuel another prefilter would help, one with a convienent water trap and cheap elements would be best. If the fuel has black death, a fungus that grows in the fuel, you can get treatment for that which kills it off. Be warned though if its in your tanks your going to go through a lot of filters before its clean again. When you changed the fuel filter how much floaty nasties were in the seperator bowl?

so i can easily change the exhaust manifold myself?? was looking at putting a new exhaust under it anyway. Was told it was a bugger of a job to do thats the only reason i was going to take it to someone. I have always serviced or fixed my 4x4 myself. have got an egt gauge to fit to it yet too

I had a second glass filter on it but took it off thinking it may have been starving for the fuel, there was only a couple of floaties in that filter.

[grubkenbel]

.......
the CHICK lol

Lol my bad

Hehehe normally a safe bet. unlucky!

all good, at least you know now that I am a chick lol

[shortyq]

you realize these things have a tendancy to ''make a bang sound'' then stop at around these kays!
yours is showing symptoms!

[gu town]

[Skegbudley]

The soot would be caused by the leak in the exhaust manifold gasket.
It is relativly easy to replace. The reason it cost so much is because it is labour intensive and takes around 6hrs to do.
If you want to know what is involved in changing the gasket then read my writeup on the subject.
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/diy-modi ... val-55958/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Did replacing the MAF sensor fix the issue? IT IS common fr the ZD30 to overfuel when the MAF sensor fails and as a result. There is a lot of black smoke. Do you have boost and pyro gauges? If not I would strongly suggest tha you fit them.
Check for vacuum leaks near the VNT controler. A quick test is to pull the vacuum line off the VTT accuator. When you refit it (with engine running) you will see the accuator arm move.

It will not be the rings as someone previously stated. Apart from the fact that I have never heard of ZD30 rings failing. It would produce white smoke if it was burning oil from the rings.

As for the 2nd fuel filter. DON"T use it unless you also fit a lift pump at the tank.

[grubkenbel]

[quote="Skegbudley"]The soot would be caused by the leak in the exhaust manifold gasket.
It is relativly easy to replace. The reason it cost so much is because it is labour intensive and takes around 6hrs to do.
If you want to know what is involved in changing the gasket then read my writeup on the subject.
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/diy-modi ... val-55958/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Did replacing the MAF sensor fix the issue? IT IS common fr the ZD30 to overfuel when the MAF sensor fails and as a result. There is a lot of black smoke. Do you have boost and pyro gauges? If not I would strongly suggest tha you fit them.
Check for vacuum leaks near the VNT controler. A quick test is to pull the vacuum line off the VTT accuator. When you refit it (with engine running) you will see the accuator arm move.

It will not be the rings as someone previously stated. Apart from the fact that I have never heard of ZD30 rings failing. It would produce white smoke if it was burning oil from the rings.

As for the 2nd fuel filter. DON"T use it unless you also fit a lift pump at the tank.[/quot

Replacing the maf sensor did nothing to the black smoke, however when i did an oil change it reduced the black smoke by about half.

I was in Roma yesterday and took it to an old mechanic to see what he reckons and he said where the soot is coming from looks exactly like the exhaust manifold gasket as its blowing past the heat shield past the turbo and into the back of the alternator.
However he also picked out that it needed a oil ring as the 3rd piston is leaking oil (which i knew)
But on the drivers side of the engine it has a little bit of oil so he wants me to do everything i was going to do plus replace all the seals etc near the injectors and pistons.
He said that the piston leaking wouldnt cause the appropriate compression therefore could be the reason for the rich overfueling.
As for the manifold gasket and machining he himself has had to re machine 4 in the last couple of weeks on the zd 30 motors.

I have bought a boost gauge and oil gauge just waiting on the snail mail out here in the bush. lol

Thanks heaps will look at the vnt