Full throttle smoke

[Mr. Flibble]

It sounds a lot like driving an aircooled Vanagon Westy. You can easily overheat those by putting the pedal down on hills, blowing holes in pistons or softening the heads until the valve seats get hammered in. I installed a temp gauge and learned to have a light foot on hills and just smell the flowers while everyone else blew past me in a great hurry. But those were 60hp engines. I'm surprised these little Japanese diesels are so fragile.

They are only 85 hp, and you are dealing with a lot of extra weight as well with the 4x4 chassis. So, with that additional weight and drag it probably works out to the same as a westy. The L400 has 123 hp for a series 1, and it goes up from there with the more modern models.

[Rattlenbang]

Well, these things have a lot more oomph than the AC Westy, which I guess is a function of much higher torque. But it sounds like dealing with something similar in having an underpowered engine in a heavy vehicle. With the Westy it's more a function of limits of cooling provided by flowing air, while the Delica it's weak heads and insufficiently cooled turbo? Still comes down to design issues in my mind, because the 82 Westy was available with a 1.6 NA diesel that generated only 45hp, and although truly gutless, overheating components wasn't a problem with them. So it's not a given that an overworked engine must overheat. Has anyone ever modded the L300 by dropping an L400 engine into it?

[Mr. Flibble]

Well, these things have a lot more oomph than the AC Westy, which I guess is a function of much higher torque. But it sounds like dealing with something similar in having an underpowered engine in a heavy vehicle. With the Westy it's more a function of limits of cooling provided by flowing air, while the Delica it's weak heads and insufficiently cooled turbo? Still comes down to design issues in my mind, because the 82 Westy was available with a 1.6 NA diesel that generated only 45hp, and although truly gutless, overheating components wasn't a problem with them. So it's not a given that an overworked engine must overheat. Has anyone ever modded the L300 by dropping an L400 engine into it?

I doubt it. The 4M40 engine mounts in a totally different manner. I think a few people have done engine swaps in the L300 with other engines, but not the 4M40. You probably could swap the 4M40, but my guess is that there a lot of better choices out there.

[glenn]

search: Lexus V8 in a L300 - it is a popular swap and apparently all the bits are mostly in the right place.

[psilosin]

That would be an awesome swap. I had a Toyota Celsior with that engine and it was smooth and silky beast.

[403delica]

If you can run there 4.3 v8 swap in a 2J! That would be sexy!

[SuperLow]

what are the possible diesel options for transplants into a l300 something with a lot more powerhttp://www.delica.ca/forum/posting.php?mode=re ... 086ac19061#

[yojimbo]

I can't say that this is normal, as my L400 does not do that. However, yours is a different vehicle I believe.

What I can tell you is that black smoke is a sign that there is too much diesel in the cylinders compared to the amount of air. Meaning that the turbo is not putting in enough air at that point. Black Smoke = Unburned Diesel going out the back. This will always happen when you quickly mash your foot to the floor, the turbo "lags" in getting air into the engine, and you get black smoke.

My guess is, that in this case you reached the limits of your boost pressure and you were adding more fuel than the van could use on that hill. You could up the boost; but be careful not to go overboard and damage your engine. Could be something else I don't know about of course. Either that, or you are just at the limits for that engine under load as well.

With respect, the fuelling of the motor is governed by a turbo pressure pipe to the top of the fuel pump, if there is a lack of air flow, then there will be a lack of pressure, and hence the fuelling will be less, or to put it another way, the fuelling under boost is directly proprtional to the amount of air going in, or in even other words, fuelling is not metered by throttle position so much as it is by boost level, while the turbo is running, when the turbo isnt doing anything, its the throttle alone.

[Rattlenbang]

I had my first run up the Malahat today and Ic an see what people mean about the heat. Coolant temps didn't really change and I kept the pedal off the floor, doing 70-80 in the steepest parts with OD off, maybe 3/4 throttle, and yet when I got out at the wrecking yard it did smell hot. I can only imagine if I had just put it to the floor and held it there. Wonder why they run so hot? Load can't be the whole story.

[konadog]

...I'm surprised these little Japanese diesels are so fragile.

Anything is wreckable if pushed beyond its capabilities. An L-300 isn't underpowered, it is just designed to go up hills slowly.

[Mr. Flibble]

I can't say that this is normal, as my L400 does not do that. However, yours is a different vehicle I believe.

What I can tell you is that black smoke is a sign that there is too much diesel in the cylinders compared to the amount of air. Meaning that the turbo is not putting in enough air at that point. Black Smoke = Unburned Diesel going out the back. This will always happen when you quickly mash your foot to the floor, the turbo "lags" in getting air into the engine, and you get black smoke.

My guess is, that in this case you reached the limits of your boost pressure and you were adding more fuel than the van could use on that hill. You could up the boost; but be careful not to go overboard and damage your engine. Could be something else I don't know about of course. Either that, or you are just at the limits for that engine under load as well.

With respect, the fuelling of the motor is governed by a turbo pressure pipe to the top of the fuel pump, if there is a lack of air flow, then there will be a lack of pressure, and hence the fuelling will be less, or to put it another way, the fuelling under boost is directly proprtional to the amount of air going in, or in even other words, fuelling is not metered by throttle position so much as it is by boost level, while the turbo is running, when the turbo isnt doing anything, its the throttle alone.

Correct, but my understanding of it, is that when you jam your foot to the floor quickly and see black smoke you are seeing unburned diesel. This black, unburned diesel is there due to the lack of corresponding air provide by the turbo as it has yet to spool up to speed. This is turbo lag. You can also see black smoke due to a clogged air filter, high elevation and engine tuning issues. So while the boost fuel regulation is close, it is not perfect.

[Rattlenbang]

...I'm surprised these little Japanese diesels are so fragile.

Anything is wreckable if pushed beyond its capabilities. An L-300 isn't underpowered, it is just designed to go up hills slowly.

LOL to some that would be a definition of being underpowered!

[konadog]

I guess it comes down to one's expectations...

[thedjjack]

...I'm surprised these little Japanese diesels are so fragile.

Anything is wreckable if pushed beyond its capabilities. An L-300 isn't underpowered, it is just designed to go up hills slowly.

LOL to some that would be a definition of being underpowered!

Faster than my bicycle uphill.....

[Mimic4]

If you want to speed up hills just buy a sports car. :P
Driving back from courtney and over the malahat I didnt mind doing 90 and just enjoying the scenery. If you're in a hurry just leave earlier. :) .. I already have a fast car so it's a nice change of pace.