Question About Diesel Engines + Emissions.

[Rich]

On thursday night, my friend got pulled over by the cops because "black smoke" was coming out of his exhaust. He drives a 91 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel. He was accelerating hard going up a hill, and thats when the cop pulled him over. The car doesnt pour out black smoke all the time or anything. My friend tried to explain to the cop about diesel engines, but the officer wouldnt listen. In the end, instead of giving my friend a ticket for pollution, or making him take an e-test (there is no regular e-testing where i live), the cop told him to get the problem taken care of / fixed, and then to fax him a copy of the parts bill or repair bill. My friend was given 10 days to do this, or his registration will be pulled.

Basically my question is, can a diesel be functioning correctly and still emit black smoke under hard acceleration? I see black crap coming out of diesel transports all the time. If this shouldnt be happening, would someone suggest what he can do to fix the problem? The car could probably use a new set of rings, but thats about it. It came from the factory with almost no emissions control equipment, but the car seems to run ok.

Anyone care to comment? Id really appreciate hearing someones opinion here

Thanks in advance...

[Steel]

of course. Even the cleanest diesel engines put out black smoke when under hard acceleration, especially when cold. Tell your friend to get some information sources on diesel and fax THAT to the cops.

[2strokebloke]

Reminds me of a story from a fellow 360 driver. The Subaru 360 uses a 2-stroke engine, so it also burns oil, and when the engine is cold, these tiny cars (356cc engine displacment) can emit HUGE blueish-grey clouds of partially burned oil.
One day five minutes from his house, he got pulled over, reason: excessive smoke. He got a ticket, and he was required to fix the "problem" and then take the car in to show them it was no longer smoking, so before he took it in he just let it warm completely up and, the cars "problem" was "fixed"

[BigJustinZ28]

I'd sit on a xerox machine and fax a picture of my ass to them.

[sidewinder69]

Originally posted by BigJustinZ28
I'd sit on a xerox machine and fax a picture of my ass to them.

There's a great idea.....not only get the "E-test", but get a ticket for indecent exposure, prolly. disturbing the peace, AND public nudity.



Still, would be funny as hell!

Later!

[Rich]

Originally posted by sidewinder69


There's a great idea.....not only get the "E-test", but get a ticket for indecent exposure, prolly. disturbing the peace, AND public nudity.



Still, would be funny as hell!

Later!

Stop buggering up my thread, ya bastard

[BeEfCaKe]

Originally posted by Rich
On thursday night, my friend got pulled over by the cops because "black smoke" was coming out of his exhaust. He drives a 91 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel. He was accelerating hard going up a hill, and thats when the cop pulled him over. The car doesnt pour out black smoke all the time or anything. My friend tried to explain to the cop about diesel engines, but the officer wouldnt listen. In the end, instead of giving my friend a ticket for pollution, or making him take an e-test (there is no regular e-testing where i live), the cop told him to get the problem taken care of / fixed, and then to fax him a copy of the parts bill or repair bill. My friend was given 10 days to do this, or his registration will be pulled.

Basically my question is, can a diesel be functioning correctly and still emit black smoke under hard acceleration? I see black crap coming out of diesel transports all the time. If this shouldnt be happening, would someone suggest what he can do to fix the problem? The car could probably use a new set of rings, but thats about it. It came from the factory with almost no emissions control equipment, but the car seems to run ok.

Anyone care to comment? Id really appreciate hearing someones opinion here

Thanks in advance...

Isn't it a law in Ontario that you must have your car go thru e-test every 2 years?

[Rich]

Originally posted by BeEfCaKe


Isn't it a law in Ontario that you must have your car go thru e-test every 2 years?

Maybe some places in Ontario, but not here

[SaabJohan]

The black smoke is particle emissions, and diesel engines can smoke black under hard acceleration. The black smoke isn't dangerous, the particles are too large. It is the particles that you don't see that are dangerous.

If the cops don't like black smoke tell them to watch tractorpulling!