Injectors and Diesel Smoke

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Outback Jack
Member
Posts: 381
Hi all,

Just curious to know where people got injectors from and how much it cost. 244 is blowing a lot of black smoke on start up and under load. When revving it blow a lot of black smoke, more than there should be.

However if you hold the throttle at a set point it doesnt blow much smoke.

So I am guessing after 225K KMs the injectors might need a birthday.

It never ends..........

Blew a radiator hose on the way to Laverton, got to Laverton found rear diff seal leaking. All fixed now, Then new master cylinder put in Perth is leaking along with pump next to it

its only money right..


If someone offered me 40K I would take it at this stage. 244 has taken a lot of money to get up to standard. More money than I have, But she looks a treat, the new air cleaner sounds great.... MMMM real love/hate relationship.



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October 31, 2010 at 7:19 PM Flag Quote & Reply

joseph baz
Member
Posts: 331
I use United fuel injection in Gt Eastern hwy,Redcliffe,very professional and reliable,some niggling things happen with vehicles that been sitting idle for a while maybe just have to give it a really good going over,I know that you already spend a heap of cash but maybe you should throw in a couple more and go through every thing,don't despair as when you'll have it good it will give you many K's of happiness.
Cheers
Joe
October 31, 2010 at 7:52 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Hal Harvey
Site Owner
Posts: 510
STB, I can't advise on injectors, but on the other, don't despair too quickly. Obviously you bought one that needed a bit of work, but when they're good.... mine is close to yours in both VIN and km, and in that time the only money I've really had to spend due to wear & tear is one starter motor, one power steering hose, one tailshaft (trashed a universal)... ummm... a few batteries... I'm struggling here... I think a fuel pump gasket once, something like that... speedo electrical gremlin, oh and got the air con rehashed a couple of years ago... knock on wood but beyond that most/all of it was just spending money for the hell of it. A mate did break a rear axle and blow the front diff due to his inability to drive once, while I wasn't there, but that just turned into an excuse to install air lockers. It's all good really.
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Hal

October 31, 2010 at 11:04 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Outback Jack
Member
Posts: 381
Thanks for the encouragement.

As I said it’s a love/hate relationship.

Some things I have done where not necessary,but most of it has been

It started with a 4k bill in SA. This wasto get it ready for the trip over to Perth.
Then it was the 1200 bill at OKA Kalgoorliefor a service and repack front bearings
Then it was the 4.5K bill for the A/C, itwas more than this originally, however thankfully I got a discount
Another bill for around 3 to 4k for workdone
Then it was the 1400 bill a few days ago for the rear diff seals and bearings, repair a oil cooler leak
Then a 400 dollar bill when the topradiator hose blew and had to get a mechanic come from 60 odd kms away
And still have mystery master cylinder leakor it could be the hydraulic booster. Brake booster has already been replaced.
Tyres will need replacing soon, and having original16s on will mean some costly choices have to be made.
Still need to properly shackle pins, expect it be another 1k.
Then there is accommodation, airfares etcetc. Picking it up in Adelaide,fixing it in Perth etc. Probably another 2 or 3 k easily spent.
And now it is blowing black smoke at startup as original post.


I am sure it is a great truck, but I haveonly a certain amount of funds for it.



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November 1, 2010 at 12:29 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Dave and Pauline Gray
Member
Posts: 84
A restriction on the air inlet to the engine can cause similar symptons[ black smoke] just a thought cheers Dave
November 1, 2010 at 8:57 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
Most diesels blow a bit of smoke when starting or accelerating but if it's not enough to get you noticed by the authorities it's probably cosmetic. Has the smoke just started or has it always been so? How's the fuel consumption? If it's around 6 km/l or more, it's probably OK. And it shouldn't burn much oil either.

Many of your other problems sound familiar and not unexpected, but much of your costs are labour.

I realise that not everyone can or wants to do their own maintenance or repair but doing many of your these things yourself or with an Oka friend would save heaps. And more importantly, DIY means that when something breaks on a remote trip (which is what an Oka is for), you'll have the knowledge and tools to fix it yourself and get mobile again.

Although the parts can be heavy, working on an Oka is much easier than most modern vehicles, it's higher and more accessible, not so tightly packed and not full of computers which you can't diagnose or fix anyway.

You are not alone, these forums and web site are a great source of advice and first hand experience.

We've had many failures over 6 years (but not injectors yet) and most things we've been able to fix ourselves. Yes even spouses can be very useful. The only things we couldn't or wouldn't fix ourselves are a/c work, injector pump overhauls and machine shop work (shaft plating, grinding and critical welding).

Our problems have included a broken clutch cable, broken spring and shackle pins, drive shaft bolts broke, diff, hub and transfer box seals leaked, broken diff gear tooth, many and varied electrical faults, and now the steering box is leaking (not yet fixed).

I felt a bit like you when we first bought our Oka, lots of problems and potential costs, but soon it became a hobby as well as a means of outback travel and failures then become challenges and not problems.

Stick with it, Oka's are rare and desirable vehicles (despite their problems) and you'll be the centre of attention wherever you go.
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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

November 1, 2010 at 9:59 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Outback Jack
Member
Posts: 381
Thanks for all the encouragement.
Black smoke has only started. I am guess it has something do with the new NT intake. There are definitely no intake blockages. It sounds so sweet, well if you like to listen the induction noise that is.
Maybe I will have to get a diesel mechanic to check it when I am back in area who has one.
As for all the things so far, I guess the vehicle has done minimal KM`s over the last 10 years and this is never good for any vehicle.
I am hoping there will be a time in the not distance future that things will settle down.
They are easy to work and most work done so far, I could have done most of it. I have helped do some of it with the mechanics. But time is a bit of an issue. Running a Communications and Car Stereo business and also contracting in the west.
Finally you right, they are unique and yes you get noticed. Even an old granny came up to me and said wow that’s nice, bet you could anywhere with that.
I am currently on a mine with it, probably the only OKA on a mine and it still gets a lot attention.
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November 1, 2010 at 10:16 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Paul & Sue Crompton
Member
Posts: 44
I had the same concerns. My Oka blows a bit of smoke when I first start up when it is cold and I looked into getting the injectors cleaned or replaced. Having spoken to Robin Wade, he mentioned that he recently pulled a set of injectors out of an Oka which had done around 300,000 and the test pattern on the injectors were fine so he didn't feel that it was necessary as I have only done 170,000 kms.

I caught up with 11 Okas on the weekend at Gatton and first thing in the morning when everyone fired them up, all the Okas I looked at blew a little smoke. When I discussed this with some of them, they all said the same thing that it always blows smoke when it is cold but once warmed up it is fine.
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Paul & Sue Crompton

November 1, 2010 at 6:14 PM Flag Quote & Reply

beaconmaster
Member
Posts: 1
HI, just to add a short note.Regarding the injector issue.
As mentioned by others, there could be a vast range of issues causing your smoking. Injectors, can develope incorrect spray pattens ect. Cause by cardon build up, nozzle wear and tear ect.
Your best approach would be to see a local Diesal shop. Which will probably ( altrasonicaly) clean your injectors first. Nine times out of ten, they will read your injectors like a paper, and give you all the answers. Good or bad for the pocket.I suggest having this clean every 100th, to keep things in balance. Normally not too expensive. removing them yourself will help the labour costs, not to difficult.
November 1, 2010 at 8:03 PM

For reasons I can't recall (last night's red wine?) I found myself looking for the meaning of different diesel smoke colours.

Apparently a diesel should not emit any smoke when running normally, if it does, something is wrong. This article explains it all quite well, which I extracted from an ad for engine cleaning products from the Cost Effective Maintenance company (which has some useful articles on its website).



Other useful links are:

Guy Motors NZ which explains all 5 (!) smoke colours. (WOF is the NZ roadworthy Test)

United Diesel UK

Wow old post


Never did suss 244 out.

169 blow bit of blue smoke (Oil) when its cold, its smokey for the first 5 minutes or so, then clears up.

My understanding black smoke is excess fuel. Running down the road with little load a diesel shouldnt blow much smoke at all.