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bobbber · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject: Puff Puff!

Hi All!

Did a load of work on my 33 and my mate's (Andy's) 146 over the weekend (brakes etc...). So afterwards went for a test drive of both cars - I led in a little Alfa convoy!

Here's my problem(?). Andy could tell everytime I put my 'foot down' as a little puff of black smoke puffed from the exhaust. He said, generally the exhaust blew clean apart from a short black puff when on the gas.

What's going on here? Should I be worried? Is this normal for a boxer engine with 148,000 miles on the clock?

Thanks!

Bob Cool

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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

gritsop · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject:

Hi there Bob,

Glad to hear you working on the car for the weekend!

Generally speaking black smoke denotes rich mixture, white smoke means either coolant is burned or lean mixture and blue smoke means oil burned.

That's my 2 cents...

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

Guest · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:55 pm Post subject:

I would say thats pretty normal for most engines...
When you boot it you will get a bit puff of unburnt fuel out of exhaust.
Nothing to worry about, in my opinion.
Mark

bobbber · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

Than

,

Does that mean I should be twisting that screw for the mixture on the ECU? I'm not overly keen on playing with that!

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

bobbber · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:36 am Post subject:

No 2 :

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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

lee16v · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:22 am Post subject:

Bob,
If your engine is running fine ie; not lumpy, then i'd be inclined to leave the mixture screw alone. Playing with it may lead to the car failing the emmisions test at your next MOT!
As long as it is black and not white or blue smoke and only on hard acceleration you've nowt to worry about.
Gutted i couldn't make it to NAD, looked like there was a good 33 turn out!

bobbber · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

My 33 has no cat, but is unleaded - it's never been tested for emissions at the MOT (no really!) Cool

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

gritsop · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject:

Hi

For cat cars this screw should never be twisted as it would affect emissions.

The position of this screw can be considered as the focal point for CO emissions. In case the car is high on emissions troubleshooting of various sensors including lambda, should be performed in order to trace the problem and NOT adjusting the screw as it will temporarily "cure" the problem.

However in Bob's case where there is not cat things are less complicated. Go and have an emissions test to see what's going on. In case you are high then I would consider an injector supersonic cleaning which is of major importance.

I would still not adjust the screw, and consider the fact that Swiss 33's with L-Jet do not have this adjustment screw ... Swiss legislation does not allow CO adjustment and if the car is high on emissions, then the owner should simply find the problem!.

Hope this helps.

Regards
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

bobbber · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:08 pm Post subject:

Than,

Interesting news about the Swiss emission regulations.

I will be getting my injectors cleaned sometime shortly.... the car performs great, even though I'm guessing they've never been cleaned.

B
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

gritsop · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I am having the injectors cleaned every 50.000 kms and you won't believe the amount of dirt and salt deposits that accumulate in the cleaning machine during the process!

Do it and you won't miss.

Edit: I had once asked a trusted mechanic for this CO screw and said that two elements of L-Jet are Achilles tendon and should never be tampered.
1. CO adjustment screw
2. Throttle adjustment screw

Regards
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop