Community Forums

Smitty77 · 06-24-2015, 11:00 PM

Have had this coach since just under 13K, now a still low miles for age 43K miles.

I have started to notice a puff of black smoke, when taking off form a start. Not always.

Seems to me to me it happens when coming to a stop after coming down a hill, or in town traffic, with Jake Compression braking assist helping prior to the stop.

The only other thing a bit different, in the last 5K miles, is that I had the ECM refreshed to 400 from 370. Timing is about the same, but it also could be a coincidence.

Am monitoring oil levels more closely (Used to just check it every few weeks, as it always stays the same.)

Wondering if I have ring blow by? Or, a seal going out on the turbo? Or, am I seeing normal behavior? (Never notice it in any other gear shift. Just from when I'm taking off after sitting at a stop.)

Sure not looking for something to worry about. But, also don't mind checking things out that this brain trust recommends I look at

!

TIA,
Smitty

Koop · 06-25-2015, 07:39 AM

64,000 miles on my CAPS ISL 400. I get an occasional puff of black soot when starting from a stop. I've gone 3,500 miles since my last oil change and haven't had to add any.

I think what you are seeing is normal, you just never noticed it before. If it was a ring issue, you would be burning oil and seeing blue smoke.

PushedAround · 06-25-2015, 07:44 AM

Black is fuel, the occasional puff is normal. Blue is oil, not something you want to see.

Smitty77 · 06-25-2015, 09:21 AM

Thanks to you both, and I commented to the DW that I felt the color of the 'puff' indicated fuel more then burned oil.

I'll still check and monitor oil consumption a bit closer the next few months. Speculate that the ECM flash may have changed the fuel feed some while idling, with a tad more fuel. I say that, as I doubt I would have missed this over the first few years of ownership - I very seldom saw black puffs previously.

Best to you both, and all,
Smitty