Forum:
Finding it really impossible to find a specilist diesel mechanic, in Derbyshire,or Nottinghamshire that can have a look at my Piaggio Porter 1.4 Diesel van.
Its blowing blue smoke out, every now and again......can never telll when its gonna do it......it just does!
I get a split second warning that its gonna bellow out some smoke, by hearing a funny rattle noise and then a short burst of power...and then the blue smoke screen!
Various 'mechanics; have said everything from knackered engine to internal travel fuel pump set up???
The van is a 56 reg and its only done 7,100 miles.....thats right, 7,100 miles......inherited it from the father in law and he did very little miles in it (he knew that i always wanted it!!).
Its desperate stations now as i'm finding it frustrating finding a good, honest, reliable, specialised diesel mechanic!!
ANY advise would be VERY greatfull.....don't really wanna sell it as its in brill condition (inside and out) and 7,100 miles!
Cheers
decent mechanic
no help to you at all but to throw my oar in, for a problem to be diognosed its about 99% easier for it to happen when the mechanic is there and for long enough for him to hear/feel the issue, what you describe could be any number of things so dont be to hard on them!, it sounds like an "overfuel" diesel knock followed by unburnt fuel exiting from the exhaust but like i said, very hard to diognose.
On a seperate note what people need to do is find and keep a regular garage/mechanic and make some effort to keep them, i have customers who have become friends and as such they trust your judgement and they know that what i advise is not just a way of extracting as much cash as i can from them. I know that a problem like you have is frustrating but it does not give people like me any pleasure at all as all it does is make us look bad!!
There must be good garages in your area, you just need to ask around to find one-someone who gets there work from word of mouth not the one with the biggest/brighest/advert/website
good luck with the van, i would like to know what the problem turns out to be, regards, kirk.
blue smoke
Is the engine a lambardini that they fitted in the daihatsu hijet.If so I know the problem that you are having,firstly is the sump slightly filling with diesel.If yes thats the O rings on the fuel line which run to each injector which are weeping,secondly the rocker cover needs a new internal breather pipe which lets the oil mixed with diesel into the inlet on slightly higher revs,this can run away and destroy the engine.I live in Sheffield and worked on daihatsu for many years.Hope this helps Mick
Mick H