Excessive black smoke
07-01-2012, 07:56 PM
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ML320 CDI
Excessive black smoke
Hi, I have an ML320 CDI and I have encountered a problem. When idle it smokes a lot, it's kind of a white smoke with a hint of blue. And when accelerating at any speed it blows out a constant black smoke. And under heavy acceleration it blows a massive cloud of black smoke making the people behind me blind. I wonder what could be causing this problem and how can I fix it?
TIA
TIA
07-01-2012, 08:31 PM
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X350d GLE500e 2017, ML350 BlueTec 2012(sold), A200 2013, ML350CDI 2009(sold), Aston Martin DB7 2003
Sorry but this is bad news. 
White smoke is usually but not always steam. Check your coolant and monitor it. Also check under your oil filler cap for condensation or gunge.
Blue smoke is usually oil. could be from wear but could be a complication of other problems.
Black smoke is usually fuel, as when an injector clogs.
Whichever I believe the services of a good diesel mechanic are required.
White smoke is usually but not always steam. Check your coolant and monitor it. Also check under your oil filler cap for condensation or gunge.
Blue smoke is usually oil. could be from wear but could be a complication of other problems.
Black smoke is usually fuel, as when an injector clogs.
Whichever I believe the services of a good diesel mechanic are required.
07-01-2012, 10:55 PM
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Sorry but this is bad news.
White smoke is usually but not always steam. Check your coolant and monitor it. Also check under your oil filler cap for condensation or gunge.
Blue smoke is usually oil. could be from wear but could be a complication of other problems.
Black smoke is usually fuel, as when an injector clogs.
Whichever I believe the services of a good diesel mechanic are required.
White smoke is usually but not always steam. Check your coolant and monitor it. Also check under your oil filler cap for condensation or gunge.
Blue smoke is usually oil. could be from wear but could be a complication of other problems.
Black smoke is usually fuel, as when an injector clogs.
Whichever I believe the services of a good diesel mechanic are required.
07-01-2012, 11:16 PM
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Check engine on? When was the last time the air filters were replaced? What fuel do you use? Is it ULSD? Has the engine overheated? What engine oil have you used in the past? How many miles/Km on the engine? Is there a performance chip?
Several things can cause what you describe, and without more info, the best advice is post 2.
Several things can cause what you describe, and without more info, the best advice is post 2.
07-01-2012, 11:46 PM
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Check engine on? When was the last time the air filters were replaced? What fuel do you use? Is it ULSD? Has the engine overheated? What engine oil have you used in the past? How many miles/Km on the engine? Is there a performance chip?
Several things can cause what you describe, and without more info, the best advice is post 2.
Several things can cause what you describe, and without more info, the best advice is post 2.
2. No air filters changed since I bought the ML a month ago.
3. Pretty hard to get decent fuel in my country, Dominican Republic.
4. Engine never overheated, not even close.
5. Castrol 10w40 oil
6. 76,294km
7. No performance chip
07-02-2012, 02:38 PM
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2 Replace the air filters ASAP as they do clog up pretty bad with the turbo sucking up almost everything in its path. I have found HUGE bugs in mine. I change every 20K miles. (32000KM?) Possible the last owner didn't change either?
3 The fuel must be ULSD or it probably will damage the DPF causing heavy black smoke. (And a host of other issues.)
5 Here are the Castrol oils that are MB 229.51 approved. Anything else will damage the DPF again causing black smoke. I personally use Mobil1 ESP Formula M 5w40.
Castrol EDGE Formula RS SAE 0W-40 (added 09 July 2007)
Castrol EDGE Turbodiesel SAE 0W-30 (added 09 July 2007)
Castrol Longtec Turbodiesel 0W-30 (229.51)
