Magic replied:

Hi Trevor

Change to Shell Diesel you will see the difference

Truckster (Vic) replied:

45,000klms it shouldnt be blowing black smoke, unless you have had a bad batch of fuel... Surfs seem to do it lots I noticed 2 today! But Im off the tracks here.

Getting the dealer to do the injectors would be near on impossible as its around $75 per injector + removal and replace...

What has the dealer done so far to the car if anything, or have they just driven it? An option maybe to go to an independant mechanic, and ask them. Then if they agree with you, you have some ammo to use.

You could if you wanted try something like Nulon Injector cleaner, i used it on my GQ TD42 and have never looked back, worked a treat for me, it may or maynot work for you.

YMMV totally.

Old Jack replied:

Dear Trevor,
our work's 3l jackaroo is a 2000 model with 74000klm on the clock, under hard accelaration it does produce some black smoke, under gentle -moderate accelartion it produces nill smoke, has been like this from day one, some smoke under hard accelaration is normal, but not lots of smoke. going back to basics with any diesel motor:-
has it got plenty of fresh Air? restricterd air filters make any diesel smokey has it got a snorkel fitted out of curiosity?
restricted fuel filters can cause problms too..

as for injectors at 45000k possibly a problem though at this mileage should not be, once again get Profesional advice from a repuitable diesel workshop before fronting up to the dealer.
be carefull with the use of fuel addatives & injection cleaners, over use of some of these can cause more problems than they fix as the nossels can become scored by over use, leading to injectors dribble(this applys also for petrol engines as well). was a convert to using addatives every fourth tank until we changed fuel suppliers.

as someone else put check the fuel you are buying as well, some burn cleaner than others if you buy from one of the big three all the time this should not be a problem.

diesel exhaust smoke levels is a subjective thing, with the High pressure injection on these jacks smoke levels should be very low, problem is we get low grade diesel here in oz and until we go to european level low sulphur fuel a lot of these motors will continue to exhibite some exhaust smoke, oh and low sulphur fuel is not a new thing in France they have had low sulpher fuel and minimum 5% bio- diesel since 1972 ( they use rappe/canola oil esterized) the 5% bio diesel reduces the smoke level, lubricates the injection pump in place of the sulphur, they found that 1% was sufficient in place of the sulphur to prevent pump damage, at 5% total emmisions where reduced. also they are smart they made a market for there own oil seed growers as they legislated the minimum 5%. we are now 30 years behind the time with fuel!

anyway good luck & happy motoring

CJ replied:

Trevor

I have a similar truck (2001 manual) with the same km's and have the same problem.

This model has a general problem with cold starting and black smoke, and the fix is to install new injector pump seals and sleeve. This has been recognised by Holden and they should do the replacement under warrenty. This, together with the use of a 5W30 synthetic oil should solve your black smoke and cold start.

BUT my truck still blows more smoke than what I consider as normal for a modern diesel. It is a lot better after the new injector sleeve, but maybe I am only noticing the smoke now that I am paying particular attention to it (passanger mirror angled down). IMO it still blows more smoke compared to that of other vehicles.

I have had trucks keeping up with me when accellarating or going uphill, but blowing far less smoke than me.

My dealer is also trying to convince me that this is normal, and say that different year models have different levels of smoke. To me that is bulldust, as black smoke, however little, means unburnt fuel.

I have tried to use an additive that was recommended on this forum (can't recall the name) but will try Nulon next. I also had my truck looked at by a respected diesel mech, and he too is of the opinion that it blows slightly more smoke than it should. Unfurtunately he doesn't have the software to plug into the Jack, as it is a modern engine and only Holden has the equipment. I think our problem lies there, as it now becomes our opinion versus the opinion of the dealer.

I do not have an answer to your problem, but hope my experience and observations help in some way. Please keep us posted.

CJ