Diesel emissions

iolanthe07

they dont test emissions at start up.


Thanks. I thought they did.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

You should always have the car MOT'd when the engine and exhaust are hot. That way the ECU isn't using a higher fuel mixture to warm the cat up (which happens when the exhaust and engine are cold).

Millers won't do anything. The only way to clean injectors is to physically remove them and have them ultrasonically cleaned.

The smoke is unburnt fuel - the only way you'll get rid of it is to check your glow plugs, or check the injectors.

ozvaldinho

Seriously, I run a fleet of 17 diesels, various types and ages with up to 300k miles on the clock. A cloud of diesel on starting is absolutely nothing to worry about, it should clear in 20 or so seconds. I've got cars and vans which have been like this for years.
More modern diesels don't tend to do this, but my old fiat van does really belch out a lot of smoke, but never goes wrong.
A good way to keep things clean is to rev the van up to the redline in third gear once in a while, you may see a bit of smoke but it'll clear a lot of the !!!! out of the internals.