Excessive smoke MoT failure

Thanks very much everyone. Will buy some diesel cleaner and think about all this over Christmas!

v8250 said:

take the 200tdi for an Italian Service

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doriz said:

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I see what you there. I regularly take mine out for a good blatt along the M4/A34 to get up to full temperature and clear her bowels. She's yet to thank me for my dedicated tlc

I found that a fill with premium diesel and a good run on the motorway helped considerably with emissions.

Me again. I've ordered a service kit and a bottle of Diesel Magic. One more question... does it matter if I use the cleaner BEFORE replacing filters etc. or would you recommend doing the service first? Thanks.

I think (rightly or wrongly) a lot of people change the fuel filter and fill it up with neat snake oil, in the hope of an "attack dose".

Either way, I would certainly do the filters prior. No point in loosening up anything that the filter has managed to catch prior.


Do the fuel filter before and after if you feel strongly. The spin on ones are about £3 each.

julianf said:

I think (rightly or wrongly) a lot of people change the fuel filter and fill it up with neat snake oil, in the hope of an "attack dose".

Either way, I would certainly do the filters prior. No point in loosening up anything that the filter has managed to catch prior.


Do the fuel filter before and after if you feel strongly. The spin on ones are about £3 each.

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Thanks for replying. Sounds like good advice to me.

jwrw said:

Thanks for replying. Sounds like good advice to me.

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I would also consider an old fashioned Italian tune up once you have done a service and got injector cleaner in the fuel system. Diesel engines, especially older ones, like to be worked hard and under load rather than just tickle around at low revs. Getting high revs under lots of load to get everything up to temp and working hard will do a world of good providing the rest of the engine is in good order.

The best help to reduce a smokey diesel here in Ireland is to add Dipetane to your fuel tank. You will find it in many motor factors.
It has worked well in my 25 years working on diesel engines.