Question Black Smoke Under hard Acceleration

[troutwest66]

My '04 is still bone stock. Delete and exhaust is in the plans but it's only money, right?? New EGR valve last August. New injectors and fuel filters 2500 miles ago. Has been running awesome. A month ago maybe I started getting some black smoke and low power at low RPM and heavy throttle like you would going around a corner or starting out from a start. Felt like being in too high a gear with a manual and was lugging until the RPMs got higher. I even had smoke passing on the freeway the other day. Never did this before that I ever noticed (the smoke). I figure I better get it scanned and go from there. Have an appointment Wednesday. Before I take it in I figure I can check the EGR so a week and half ago I cleaned it. Wasn't horrible but it seemed to actuate better. Reinstalled with new gaskets. Watched a video on cleaning the intake port going to the MAP sensor. Checked it, wasn't blocked but made sure it was clean and the hose was clear. Problem remained. This last week had to make three highway trips. First one still have the problem. After that it seems to be getting better and yesterday I couldn't get it to smoke by romping on it. I think it's running like it did before now. Seems to have fixed itself?? I'm wondering if there was some carbon built up somewhere that finally blew out. I know I need to drive it harder and I try to wind it up when I can (love to roll down the windows and listen to the turbo!!) but I'm not always on the freeway. Just wondering if anyone has had this happen and should I still get it scanned? I was going to talk with my mechanic anyway but I'm a little stymied. Sorry for the long post. I think I included all the pertinent information.

 

[DaveBen]

You need to get it scanned to solve your black smoke issue. Everything else would be guessing. YOU can get a scanner at a local Auto Parts Store. Make sure it can read CAN codes and you are good to go.

 

[troutwest66]

Driving today I got a puff once that I could notice when flooring it after making a slow turn. The wife's rig just got a new starter today so the scanner is on the back burner. I'm holding off on that since I plan on getting an Edge monitor that reads codes, too. I don't see the need for both. But then we are looking for an Explorer for the wife so we can give our Jeep Cherokee to the daughter in college so maybe I'll see if management will go for that. NAPA has several on display at my local store and I do get a discount there and I know one of the counter guys real well so maybe. Thanks, Dave. You did say what was going through my mind.

 

[troutwest66]

Turned out the turbo needed to be cleaned. Map sensor port on the intake was pulled and cleaned as well as the EBP sensor which was about 50% plugged. Apparently from previous owners not driving it hard enough. Little by little getting these small things taken care of.

 

[01yellerCobra]

How did you clean the turbo?

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[troutwest66]

Sorry, a bit misleading. I didn't do it. I have a real good diesel guy in Coeur d'Alene, ID and after testing/scanning it was determined the vanes were sticking in the turbo. They pulled it and cleaned it all up. I've watched the videos on it and I know what they do but I don't trust myself to do that job. Too many tricks of the trade. Diesel Tech Ron has a great video that shows what he does.

Pretty cool actually.

 

[01yellerCobra]

Ah. Ok. I was just curious. I wasn't sure if it was something done with it still on the engine or not. I tend to drive my truck like my Cobra. So I don't think I have to worry much about things sticking and clogging.

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[troutwest66]

Since I'm the third owner and according to my mechanic the truck was babied so EGR and turbo was sooted up. I love the sound of the turbo spooling up so in spite of a$$ chewings from management for "exhibition of speed" from stops and slow turns I try to keep things "limber" as much as I can. I don't think any of this was my driving habits but from before I got the truck March of last year. I can't wait until I have the money for the 4" exhaust. The neighbors might hate me!!

 

[JLDickmon]

well, there is "driven easy" and then there is "babied"
same as there is "driven normally" and then there is "beat on"

Last thing you want to do to a 6.0 is beat the piss out of it.

Keeping up with traffic is one thing.. treating traffic like the 24Hrs of LeMans is something else.

 

[troutwest66]

I hear you, John. I don't beat on it. More like a "firm throttle." Hard to drive 25-35 in town, The truck just wants to go!