The car seems to be performing OK but when I accelerate and it kicks down there is a cloud of black smoke behind me. This isn't foot to the floor type acceleration but just enough to initiate kick down.

I have done a long run ar 3000 plus revs to clear the DPF but this doesn't make any difference. The only thing I have done differently is to add Millers additive to the Tesco diesel I use, could it be that doing some cleaning?

It may just be that I am noticing it more as the days are getting brighter - anyone got any thoughts? Geoff

i've always been told to floor it a few times to get rid of the carbon, dunno if it works or not..

You could check the two big turbo hoses at the front and top of the engine - one of mine developed as split and caused similar smoking 2007 Zermatt Silver TDV8 Vogue SE - now sold but was a great car!

That's why it's called dieseasal!

GraemeC wrote:

You could check the two big turbo hoses at the front and top of the engine - one of mine developed as split and caused similar smoking

More details here

I do get "engine System Failure" sometimes at start up but just put it down to low battery. Geoff

Check your hoses to be sure could be low battery as you suggest. Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

At start up - it is probably battery related

If you get it whilst accelerating & chucking out black smoke - probably a split turbo hose

Failing that check one of your tail pipes for a banana  Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

You wouldn't get any smoke if you had a DPF - I don't think a 2007 TDV8 has one (a 2008 certainly doesn't).

Black smoke like that does point to the intercooler hoses as mentioned

Geoff, you don't get a DPF until 2011 (ish) sir

What you do get a lot on your age FF is either as said above "split pipes" or cracked intercoolers...

Hi

I had some engine problem last last year that resulted in a breakdown on the motorway with plumes of white smoke. Car went into dealer and initially diagnosed with EGR valve issues, but in the end the dealer replaced all EGR valves, intercoolers and both turbocharges, and then found excess crank case pressure at which point the warranty company sent the car to an engine specialist for testing. They found the block to be cracked and provided a remanufactured one and put the car back together. I serviced the car as instructed 1000 miles later. This process took 5 months or so between all the warranty company specialists and dealers etc

About 2000 miles after the service I noticed black smoke on my RR under hard acceleration. I called the dealer (a Friday) and got told they were full and to come in Monday. I called the engine specialists who said it was probably the split hose and to go to dealer on Monday. On the sunday, the car oil pressure light came on and the car died.

its now been examined and the engine is a complete writeoff. Apparently there has been oil dilution and all internal parts of the engine are destroyed with heat damage. one of them has welded itself to crankshaft journal and all bearings are burnt and caused damage to crankshaft. the block is apparently unserviceable and conrods and pistons are damaged. the sump pan has bearing material in it, and it seems oil pump was operational when engine failed. Valves were seated correctly and new gaskets were not breached. turbos showed slight lift and float but not excissive as to have caused overall failure. Oil analysis showed a very high level of fuel.

In summary they believe the split hose caused excess turbo boost in one side which the engine management would have corrected with extra fuel into the cylinders with unburnt fuel entering into the crankcase.

As this is not mechanical failure, I am told that this is not covered by the warranties and I need to buy a new engine. I can only assume the pipe was not split before the first engine or it would have been seen when they rebuilt the engine. So the split must have happened during or very shortly after the rebuild and caused all this damage in only a few thousand miles. I am no car expert, nor a legal expert on warranties so wondered if your collective experience could give me your unbiased advice on the best way to proceed. At this point it seems the car is a write off as a new engine looks not very different from the value of the car on the second hand market!

many thanks

Ouch !

I'd certainly be arguing the toss - loads of people have split hoses without a terminal failure - maybe worth starting a separate thread as not everyone will read this one.

Engine here for £3k, not sure what they cost to fit

A good argument for fitting a EGT gauge to measure temps at each exhaust manifold or dump pipe. ______________________________
Vogue tdv8 08MY poverty pack - wow