Possible Catalytic Converter Problem?
 

Hi, My X Type Diesel Estate has a slight vibration noise from the engine when accelerating and is chucking out a load of smoke. Just replaced a damaged flexi pipe on the exhaust which we thought was the problem but I still have the same issue. Can anyone advise? Cheers.

Is it a black or white/blue(ish) smoke? If its black, check the turbo intake hose (just under EGR valve on the left bottom corner of the engine). Make sure there arent any splits or holes in it. You have to remove the air filter housing to get a better access to it.

If the EGR hose is ok, check the plastic hose that is connected to the turbo (air filter to turbo hose). Try to disconnect it from turbo. Mine was looking ok, but when i took it off, it just fell apart.

Hi, Thanks for the reply. It is black smoke, just had it to ATS and is defo not the exhaust. Will now explore your theory with Haynes manual at the ready. Cheers.

Watch this video:


It shows how to fix both: the EGR hose and turbo hose.

Most of the time a turbo bearing leaking by, or a carboned up EGR valve will produce a grey smoke.(engine oil) Truly black smoke is caused by too much fuel entering the combustion chamber. I worked on VW and Perkins diesel engines, and most of the time it is either injector pump timing, or a pump failure in it's beginning stages......Here's hoping for a simple fix......Mike

pump failure is plausible. But the EGR hose splitting is a very common problem on X-Type diesels. The oil residue coming from EGR valve drips inside the hose and deteriorates it. Air leak from the hose is causing the engine to run a bit rich, which makes the car vibrate more and also blow out clouds of black smoke. Just fixed this problem on my car :).

I can dig learning new things simo5555....Thanks for the enlightenment.....Mike

Hi All, thanks for the input. Had it all checked all the pipes etc are all good. Turned out to be a really dirty blocked air filter!!! Some black smoke is still working it's way through after changing the filter and after putting fuel additive in. May have to get it terracleaned again. Thanks again for your help.

Hold the front page!! I just had the car Terracleaned and the guy was really helpful in locating the problem that ATS and Halfords missed...it was a split pipe after all as Simo5555 said. The guy from Terraclean used a smoke machine in the engine which seaps out of any tears and highlights any splits in pipes. To be fair, to split would probably have been hard to find otherwise. At least I now know exactly which pipe it is. :-)

Hi, simo5555. All sorted now, it was the EGR cooler pipe. Thanks again.

No problem :D I'm glad it turned out ok.