New member/P38 owner in Swindon

Grrrrrr said:

I've just gone back and read the thread from the start. I wish Wammers was available as he's the expert.

My thoughts for what they are worth. I think Tomcat could be onto something with the cat. The clunk on hard acceleration could be the matrix in the cat being thrown back and blocking it if it is loose.

Next, if that isn't the noise and it isn't the turbo actuator (normally pretty reliable and you can check and clean it when you remove the cat section to test Tomcat's theory), I am wondering about a crack in the flex-plate? Or would you hear that all the time? @jamesmartin is the expert there.

Finally, what oil are you running in it?

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Enthusiastman said:

Hi Grrrrrr,

I have bitten the bullet and ordered the front CAT exhaust pipe so at least i will be fitting a full and new system when it is all here and rule out that possible cause.

The fresh oil i put in was Castrol Magnatec as recommended by Opie oils buddy. The noise on hard accelleration is more of a clattering noise than a thud noise and as soon as you throttle off it goes and comes back if you hit the gas pedal hard. it you just feather the gas pedal you get no noise but some smoke but i still think most of the smoke is the fuel additives i put in the tank to help clear out any crud from it being sat for 2 years. I am sure the dealer started it up now and then and moved it around but most likely with low fuel in the tank so it could have sucked up some crud which is why i am going to do a second new fuel filter change when it arrives to again rule out that issue of a blocked filter.

In the mean time she is sat on my driveway connected to my C-Tek charger to stop the dreaded battery drain syndrome until the local RR specialist can get her in his workshop on the 18th November.

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Grrrrrr said:

I was more after the grade than the brand?

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RangeRoller dt said:

Solid pipes on mine right through no flexis anywhere

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Enthusiastman said:

Sorry it was Gastrol Magnatec 10w40 grade oil.
I took some valued advice from Wammers and removed and fully cleaned the EGR valve today and tested it on my vacumm pump. All perfect. I think on the cusp of that advice from Wammers i might be on to something now as she seems to have responded better albeit still not 100% and still smoking and juddering but i took her out today for a long drive of about 30 miles round trip and she felt a tad better off the mark and i managed 80 mph on the motorway ( she eventually got there ) and the fuel computor was going up instead of down albeit best i got was 16 mpg at a steady 60 mph on cruise control.

She seemed to respond better in sport mode on the gearbox albeit normal mode was ok and all gears were selecting smoothly both up and down the box and kickdown was ok too albeit sometimes with smoke and sometimes without. I can hear the Turbo spooling up too but still have this metalic clattering when accellerating hard. It goes if you throttle off or hit cruise speed. Once my diesel cat exhaust pipe arrives i will then have a full new system to get fitted so if the one currently on there which looks well past its life is dodgy and or partially blocked then this could be the answer FINGERS CROSSED but i still have this little doubting Thomas in my head it is something else wrong or needs adjusting/re-setting.

I also undone the fuel filter drain on the bottom and let off about 1/2 pint of diesel into a jug which looked clear and should rule out any air lock issues which i dont think i have anyway.

On my diesel cat front exhaust pipe i have noticed it has a flexi joint just below the mounting point and before the cat box yet the new one i have ordered off ebay seller is a straight pipe to the cat with no flexi built in. Has anyone else bought this type and fitted it with no issues??? The seller has assured me it is type approved for my car and his feedback rating shows happy customers who have also bought a system or parts off a system from him for their P38's.

Once i get the old cat pipe off i can shake it and she if it does rattle which would indicate cat core failure. If not then i shall look closer at this flex plate which could have cracked as someone suggested hence the noise i get.

Regards, Brendan

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Grrrrrr said:

No flexi anywhere on mine. Both RRDT and mine are '95 models.

If Wammers is helping that's all you need.

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RangeRoller dt said:

Solid pipes on mine right through no flexis anywhere

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Grrrrrr said:

No flexi anywhere on mine. Both RRDT and mine are '95 models.

If Wammers is helping that's all you need.

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