Sluggish disco.........not any more!

Deleted , didn't notice it was an old thread with pages of replies.

Apologies for adding this to a thread from 2019, but this is what I have used for advice so it seemed sensible to put it here.

So the problem is steep hills off boost (engine hot or cold, does not make a difference). For example if I stop on a steep hill, without going into low range its almost like the engine will stall (it will unless I floor it and slip the clutch) absolutly zero power. Once the turbo kicks in off we no issues. Likewise steep hills with the turbo no issues.

Prior to any modifications it didn't really smoke unless I was in the wrong gear. And it already has a Morgan Hill boost pin fitted.

My first change was to turn the smoke screw 2 full turns clockwise. It's made a reasonable difference off boost. Pulling out of the driveway up our steep road it's sluggish as hell but dosent feel like it's going to stall anymore. But it has started smoking when full throttle.

Second change was to turn the star wheel 1/4 turn clockwise. This dosent feel like its made much difference. But boy it smokes, especially on full throttle.

I've read mixes things about the star wheel on here and the TDI performance page. Some say to turn it CW and others say to turn it CCW.

I'm not really after power on boost, thats fine. I want the power off boost - ideally without smoking out the neighbours.

So I'm thinking star wheel 1/2 turn CCW from its current position (1/4 turn CCW from the original position). And then the smoke screw on top another half turn?

At this stage I want to stay away from the main fuel screw on the back.

19_Hue_95 said:

Apologies for adding this to a thread from 2019, but this is what I have used for advice so it seemed sensible to put it here.

So the problem is steep hills off boost (engine hot or cold, does not make a difference). For example if I stop on a steep hill, without going into low range its almost like the engine will stall (it will unless I floor it and slip the clutch) absolutly zero power. Once the turbo kicks in off we no issues. Likewise steep hills with the turbo no issues.

Prior to any modifications it didn't really smoke unless I was in the wrong gear. And it already has a Morgan Hill boost pin fitted.

My first change was to turn the smoke screw 2 full turns clockwise. It's made a reasonable difference off boost. Pulling out of the driveway up our steep road it's sluggish as hell but dosent feel like it's going to stall anymore. But it has started smoking when full throttle.

Second change was to turn the star wheel 1/4 turn clockwise. This dosent feel like its made much difference. But boy it smokes, especially on full throttle.

I've read mixes things about the star wheel on here and the TDI performance page. Some say to turn it CW and others say to turn it CCW.

I'm not really after power on boost, thats fine. I want the power off boost - ideally without smoking out the neighbours.

So I'm thinking star wheel 1/2 turn CCW from its current position (1/4 turn CCW from the original position). And then the smoke screw on top another half turn?

At this stage I want to stay away from the main fuel screw on the back.

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Replace the exhaust for a sports one, it'll make a heck of a difference. It did for mine!

Stanleysteamer said:

Replace the exhaust for a sports one, it'll make a heck of a difference. It did for mine!

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How would it make a difference? I've been eyeing them up for a while as mine is slowly falling off - tempted by a back box delete.

Stanleysteamer said:

Replace the exhaust for a sports one, it'll make a heck of a difference. It did for mine!

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Had you made any other changes before the exhaust change?

19_Hue_95 said:

How would it make a difference? I've been eyeing them up for a while as mine is slowly falling off - tempted by a back box delete.

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To put it simply it more free flowing. Mine ONLY has a back box. It is wider bore and stainless. As rthere is less resistancee to the exhaust gases the turbo spins up faster.
I bought it cos mine is in standard tune and i wasn't impressed with how it didn't move well off the line, i.e. at roundabouts junctions etc, It took away the turbo lag to a large extent, drives very well, more relaxed and better fuel consumption.
don't know if they are still available, I just walked into a Land Rover Indy and said "Sports exhaust please", they ordered it in and I fitted it. Piece of pistachio!

Firebobby1 said:

Had you made any other changes before the exhaust change?

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HD springs to the rear, old rears to the front, gaz shocks all round.
No changes to the engine at all, totally standard, except for the exhaust.

Stanleysteamer said:

HD springs to the rear, old rears to the front, gaz shocks all round.
No changes to the engine at all, totally standard, except for the exhaust.

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Was that from the manifold back.
No cat fitted then

Firebobby1 said:

Was that from the manifold back.
No cat fitted then

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Yes, no cat fitted. to a 1998 Anniversary Disco ! 300tdi. I wasn't aware they even fitted cats then. Put it this way you could remove the cat and do this anyway cos cats in those days would have been an option only, I think.

Stanleysteamer said:

Yes, no cat fitted. to a 1998 Anniversary Disco ! 300tdi. I wasn't aware they even fitted cats then. Put it this way you could remove the cat and do this anyway cos cats in those days would have been an option only, I think.

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My 94 MR2 has a cat

Firebobby1 said:

My 94 MR2 has a cat

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Yerbut that's a peteroil one innit?

V8jon said:

I've had my 300tdi auto for a few months now and have had to put up with it beign like a snail setting off,so bad when cold I've had to put it in low to get up the hill out of the street!
So after searching the web and reading all the info I decided to "tweek" the injector pump, and all I can say is "wow!". What a difference,it's like a different motor now. Before it was pathetic, even dangerous setting off and up hills it was terrible,put your foot down to keep your momentum and it would not have enough guts to keep it in top gear so it would kick down a gear which is great,ease your foot off and it would go back in top a little too early and you'd have to kick down again and so on and so on, so you can imagine what it was like up a long hill.
Now it's got lots more pulling power so setting off is totaly at the other end of the scale,it goes like stink! And it's definitely got more grunt all through the revs so uphill you don't need to put your foot on the throttle as much so kickdown isn't used as much.
As for fuel consumption it seems to be the same,I've done the same 60mile journey to work and it dosn't seem to have used any more.

Definitely worth thinking about and it only takes 20 mins to do!

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please tell us more! What did you do to achieve these results?

LuckyPhil said:

please tell us more! What did you do to achieve these results?

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Go to page 1

I did the same process on my 96 330 tdi 90 and she's been running well, still rather slow so I tend not to drive her at night as American's can be quick to annoy if you don't move along.
Anyway, what I have notices is that everything in my garage as a fine black dust on it... is that just normal diesel exhaust soot or is she she blowing to much smoke?
I let the blow lugs heat then start and creep out of the garage so not sitting and running.