Thu 1 Oct 2009 22:25 Diesel fumes from older cars - stevek

Today was following an 02 reg focus diesel and could see every time the driver accelerated some black smoke came out of his exhaust. Not a lot though. I had the windows open and soon after my eyes felt like they had pepper in them and I needed to pull over at the next laybye. This has happened to me a few times now and certainly the last two were when I was following an older diesel. Does anyone know what the reason for this could be? Is it particles or unburnt diesel or what? Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 1 Oct 2009 22:50 Diesel fumes from older cars - Robin Reliant

Soot in the exhaust? My Mondeo diesel smokes on acceleration if I've been driving gently for a while, but doesn't after an Italian tune-up has cleared it's lungs out. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 13:02 Diesel fumes from older cars - OldSkoOL

Thats why they introduced DPF's to stop all that unburn't fuel exiting the exhaust. It can damage your health if you breath it in often, apparently. Some boffins even attributes strokes and heart attacks to extended exposure to diesel soot. They also found that traffic studies suggest increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease and risk of premature death when living near busy urban streets or motorways. Newer car's have more intelligent fuel mappings to stop dumping excessive fuel reducing soot and also the common rail engines inject more precise quantities. again reducing soot. However you still get that horrid diesel smell which is the Nox gases exiting when any diesel driver put's their foot down. The only engine i am aware of that stops the Nox gases significantly is the toyota DNPR T180 engine. Honda comes in 2nd best but the fords, VAG's and BMW's all have high levels of NOX still. // I also have a story about an old focus diesel. I was driving in town and following a focus diesel driver. She was getting frustrated with a driver in front of her trying to turn right on a v busy road. As the car turned right she went early, edging around the car in front and then floored it. The biggest plume of black smoke i have ever seen in my life exited the back of that car. I mean it was enormous. I would say it stretched as high as a double decker bus. It was truly ridiculous and must have been the result of stabbing the throttle to the floor to red line whilst pushing out weeks of accumulated soot in the exhaust. Edited by OldSkoOL on 02/10/2009 at 13:06 Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 13:12 Diesel fumes from older cars - bathtub tom

OldSkoOL's not a fan of diesel engines methinks. ;>) Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 13:23 Diesel fumes from older cars - boxsterboy

I used to love the smell of burnt diesel and miss it now it is emasculated in a DPF! The smell of coach exhaust fumes brings back memories of long journeys/holidays, etc. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 13:31 Diesel fumes from older cars - cheddar

An 02 reg Focus diesel is not an old diesel per se, if it is a TDCi (most likely) it uses contemporary CR injection technology. The smoke could indicate a EGR issue or it could simply have been pottering round town all day and was clearing its lungs. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 14:04 Diesel fumes from older cars - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Not just older cars. I frequently see newish cars (especially Fords) pouring black smoke as they go up the A6 Taddington bypass. What my Skoda's visible emissions are like- no idea as yet. Need to wait for some BMW headlights close to. Then floor it. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 14:19 Diesel fumes from older cars - cheddar

Need to wait for some BMW headlights close to. Then floor it. White BMW with red stripes perhaps ;-) Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 15:13 Diesel fumes from older cars - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Sorry ossifer I did not see you. ;>) Coughs. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 2 Oct 2009 15:29 Diesel fumes from older cars - bell boy

its alright my chips were too hot anyway Reply | Report as offensive | Link