# A Misc. Diesel Question Just for Fun

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-misc-diesel-question-just-for-fun/7171>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [November 11, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-misc-diesel-question-just-for-fun/7171 "2007-11-11T23:20:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-misc-diesel-question-just-for-fun/7171/1 "2007-11-11T23:20:06Z")

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This weekend I forced myself to sit through an episode of a “car help” show on one of those DIY channels. I forget the name but have seen bits of it before and is hosted by a mechanically dubious man and woman, although both claim to be ASE certified.  
  
  
  
 A caller with a turbocharged diesel Volvo said he was driving along, everything fine, and suddenly the car started belching black smoke, making a loud noise, and running very rough.  
  
 Another lesser part of the complaint was noticing that blue smoke appears on startup.  
  
  
  
 The 2 show hosts PLUS their live diesel expert from a diesel tech institute all had a unanimous opinion of the cause of this problem, which of course is way different than what mine is.  
  
  
  
 They all agreed the “air filter” is the cause of the noise/black smoke/rough running. Comments?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-misc-diesel-question-just-for-fun/7171/2 "2007-11-13T13:26:15Z")

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Because this problem came on suddenly, I would be more inclined to say that the turbo went out. All the indications are there. Blue smoke on start-up, black smoke out the exhaust, loud noise, and rough running.

Tester

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**Author:** ![Craig58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Craig58](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Craig58)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-misc-diesel-question-just-for-fun/7171/3 "2007-11-13T14:09:59Z")

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IMHO, the air filter would have to be VERY clogged. I have replaced some pretty dirty air filters without them causing black smoke. I once had those symptoms due to timing chain skipping on a diesel.