Blowing black smoke! Help needed...

Hey all,

I recently did my first oil change in my ZD30, however since dropping the original oil in it and changing to PENRITE 15-50 (HPR DIESEL 15) it has started to blow an excessive amount of black smoke.

I though it may well be the detergants in the oil, cleaning out the system. However, I'm quite concerd about it now and wondering whether or not it has happened to anyone else after an oil change?

I've read as much as I can on the issue between pages and have come across the following possible causes:

- Dirty MAF sensor
- Dirty air filter
- Poor fuel
- Injectors problem
- Glow plugs problem

I was wondering what would be the most significant from the list in this circumstance.

Prior to the oil change it didnt blow any black smoke.

There is one more issue that may contribute to the situation, it being that the fuel filter primer not fully priming and air getting into the fuel lines, making it hard to start. Would this be a contributing factor?

Need suggestions urgently....

Too much fuel, no boost will also make excessive black smoke.
I use pentrite but not that one ,I'll check later

Yeah black smoke is usually the sign of too much fuel. Clean the MAF for a start. Check all the boost hoses and clamps. Check for leaks in the IC. Also I would get the filter primer issue fixed asap too. Changing the oil I cant see causing this but I'm not mechanic so I could be wrong. Maybe just a coincidence.
Plus check the intake hoses and clamps too. Maybe, just maybe you knocked a hose with your arm when removing and refitting the oil filter. Check all sensor plugs too, make sure there on properly.

Do you have a boost gauge? Also does feel underpowered at all or does it still drive normal?

I reckon you bumped the vac hose on the turbo

^^^^This...
Where the oil filter is you can easily have you arm leaning against one of the hoses and pierced a hose. Check all the vac hoses...

Check your oil level. You may have put in too much oil.

Overfilled oil will blow blue smoke (but you would have to seriously seriously over fill it to see a problem). Black is fuel related, even a system with air in it that runs will bleed it self pretty darn quickly and clear up (normally while idling just after putting new oil in and running for the first time).

If its sucking air through a primer it would have to be a pretty serious amount of air and would run like poop.

Like the others have said, probably a vac line.

Or a coincidental problem.

I would say a vac hose for sure, proper oil change would also mean filter change, u gotta get in there to get at the filter case, pretty good chance you have bumped off a hose or dislodged one between the oil filter area & the top

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

Sounds to me like the vac hose, I may well have bumped something when trying to change the filter! The filter was on there that tight I had to use a 1/2" breaker bar!

Ill check the hoses and see, HOWEVER DOES ANYONE HAVE A PICTURE OF LAYOUT OF THE ENGINE BAY TO SHOW ME WHERE THE VAC HOSES SIT? IM STILL NEW TO THE ZD30.

The filter and primer are getting done today, may well be that it was sucking far to much air through to cause to much fuel to be travelling through the system.

Ill check the amount of oil I put in, because it wasn't reading at first so I may have put a little too much in, if this is the case whats the best way of bleeding, just through the sump?

I JUST RECENTLY CLEANED THE MAF SO THERE'S A FAIR CHANCE THAT WOULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM.

If anyone has any further feedback, feel free to suggesting them, Ill all ears until I fix this issue.

If its over filled with oil just undo the sump plug and drop a bit out. As for the vac hoses, I have a Di some pics from me are useless. But they are small, around 5mm o.d black rubber lines. You will have one going to the turbo VNT, a round disc shaped thing with a rod out the bottom of it connecting to the turbo. Check all those type of lines on that side of the engine.

Is there a chance you could google a photo on google for me and send me the link in a reply? As I don't know what I'm looking for?

That little round disc shaped thing with the small hose barb outlet on it is the VNT. There is a vac line that goes on that barb.

Okay cheers, mate. Ill have a look tomorrow and let you know.

Cheers for the help chief!

You seriously can't miss what the vac lines look like. Small rubber hoses about 5mm in diameter.

I think I may have found the vac hose, and seems to be connected.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2013/01/72.jpg
(Click on image to expand)

I may have well found a contributing factor....

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2013/01/73.jpg
(Click on image to expand)

I took my ute to the mechanic today and he said he fixed the fuel filter trouble, however, when priming its not going hard. the primer bulb. So is it meant to go hard or is it simply still sucking through air?

He also noted that the glow plugs arent staying on? Is this possible? I thought once the started they stayed on? because I've had a drama of trying to start it!

I also noticed that the oil is over full? Is this okay to drive still?

Thats the vac line. Give the lines a bend with your hand to see if there is any cracks in it. Do this to all the vac lines on that side of the engine. Plus check the intake hoses too. As for the air filter, take it out and take the car for a run without the filter. Just make sure the air box is clean first and your not travelling on any dirt roads. If the black smoke stops, that would be the problem I'd say. But either way, that filter needs to be replaced.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WilliamPatrol

I also noticed that the oil is over full? Is this okay to drive still?

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drain a bit out....
As for the glow plugs. You can test with a multimeter to see if there is voltage getting to them quite easily. If it were the glow plugs once the engine is warm it shouldn't blow black smoke. The glow plugs are on a relay which turn off after a few minutes( don't know the exact time). Dodgy glow plug/s or relay could cause the starting issue but maybe having air in the fuel lines is causing the starting trouble. I would think its a fuel issue.
Also check the rubber fuel lines for any signs of wear or cracks. Could be sucking in air before the filter...

Are you sure you drained your engine oil when you did the oil change. Some people have confused the engine drain plug with the gear box drain plug. The have drained the gear oil (thinking it was the engine oil) then added another lot of engine oil (meaning there is now double the amount in the engine) and are then driving around without any gearbox oil. I have heard of people doing this on a number of occasions.

X 2 BillsGU have heard that around the traps, oil level needs to be spot on,
by the looks of your filter IMO I'd be doing a major service.

Ill ring the mechanic and notify them that there is still air getting in, I'm sure this is the issue.

As for the glow plugs, I tested them with a circuit tester prior to the oil drop and they all lit up (so they're fine).

Ill re-check all lines and vac line on Sunday, to make sure there are no splits.

As for the oil change itself, I'm sure I drained the oil? :jawdrop: Well I hope I did! [b] does anyone have a picture of the sump to make sure I emptied the right one.

Actually, I'm positive it was the sump, due to the amount of fluid that was drained. I will let the excess out on Sunday.

Theres only one sump plug on the bottom of the engine. The gearbox plug is, on the gearbox.

I drained the dron left hand side sump. And from the amount of fluid drained, it has to be the engine oil. The gear oil is only 3.5L or something for the zd30?

So its all good.

A question though?

Should the mechanic do the fuel lines for free as I advised him about the issue beforehand and was charged for it, so therefore expected to do it right?

No. Only if they were the issue I would say something as you paid for work done elsewhere that didn't fix it. But no.