Does diesel smoke get in camper trailers?

May I suggest that if you stop the black smoke two things will occur. Firstly you won't get any "black diesel smoke" in the CT and secondly, much more importantly, we will have less wasted fuel floating around in the environment.

Maybe the injectors need attention.

Sorry to be blunt.

Phil

Hi Porl,
We had a 4 runner diesel a few year ago and were towing a CT at the time and squashed the 4by's tail pipe after hitting a wash out filled with bull dust. Without going into too much detail, the squashed pipe caused a fairly dramatic biuld up of soot and using far more fuel than it should have, resulting in smoke belowing out the back all over the CT. We were in fairly remote area and had to travel some 700km before having it repaired. Happy to say, the CT wasn't filled with smoke and soot, possibly because it was sealed well enough to keep dist and the like out and of course tailgate at the rear away from the smoke.

Cheers

"Ok so this is a novice post."

Too many variables to give a definate answer. Getting rid of the smoke would be my 1st step

Simple answer is it should not get in. If it does there would be a problem with sealing. People seem more worried about stopping the smoke than answering your question. Most diesels will blow smoke to a certain degree. If the soot gets in then dust will also be a major problem as well. A good trailer shouldn't let anything in.

Josh

Maybe consider an exhaust snorkel?

Roof height or above at the rear,pointing straight up, and with one a them truck like rain flaps on top.

Cheers

Our Cruiser used to leave the front of the camper trailer black but nothing got into the camper.The tail gate would be black, stone guard and shade cloth on it were all black.Fixed the problem by making up a angled tip on the end of the exhaust to point the fumes down.Works a treat.

not sure how well your trailer is sealed but apart from getting the black smoke sorted out - maybe have someone follow you - or if your lucky enough to have 2 lanes going up the big hill - have someone sit next to you up the big hill and get them to see how the smoke reacts - ie goes under the trailer - or spirals after the car between the car and trailer -- then you know what you have to try to seal up if it does get in

hope this helps

Boc

Gday
Darling and I have been towing our camper for 8+ years now and never smelt fumes in the camper.The first few years were with a HiLux diesel and now with a Nissan petrol.
Murray

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify, I'm not a novice with a 4WD, it's my third. Am a novice with a camper trailer and the 4WD is my first diesel.

We don't own a camper trailer yet, we are going to experiment hiring some models and see how it goes, and if my non-turbo lux can actually tow it without being too annoying.

Sounds like if I am concerned the bent pipe downwards is the go.

Of course if anyone has any bright ideas how to stop the smoke let me know, though it emits no smoke up to 3000rpm, just afterwards and particularly if labouring up a very steep hill.

Porl, not meaning to be critical, but ,as others have said, your diesel appears to need some attention. If it is already emitting black smoke not towing, you can expect that to be worse when you do. Assuming it is not consuming heaps of oil, I would take it to a reputable Diesel Injection Service for some TLC. May not
be cheap but the difference in performance & fuel usage will be worth it.
....oldbaz.

Hi Porl,

We have a GQ 4.2 diesel with aftermarket turbo. Use it to tow a Cavalier off road c/t. The black smoke is a common thing with diesel's, and is caused most commonly by over fueling. There are/may be other reasons but the most common is over fueling. In my experience, over fueling is caused by the natural desire to push the accelerator down further when the diesel is finding it a bit hard going, for instance, climbing a mountain range. I have found by watching my gauges etc, that at a particular spot in the pedal travel, I can be on max boost and not be over fueling the engine. And no black smoke out the back of the truck. But, if I succumb to the desire to "go harder", and push the pedal down further, I don't actually gain any speed, but I am injecting fuel to the engine that the engine neither needs or can deal with efficiently. It then escapes out the exhaust pipe as black sooty smoke. Also, when stationary at lights etc, and I give the pedal a good tickle to get motivated the smoke tends to erupt then..... it is cured by the time the turbo spools up and takes care of the fuel..... this, I believe, (and am happy to be corrected if I am wrong here) can be cured by fitting a device called an aneuroid (spelling?), which I haven't done. So if your diesel is spewing forth great clouds of smoke, try driving a little gentler, you may find that this is all that is required. You will soon see the rev range that you can drive in relatively smoke free. If this doesn't work, or work sufficiently, then you may have an injector or tuning issue, which I am in no way qualified to comment on.

To answer the main part of your question, we have towed our trailer for the last 4 years and so far haven't opened it to the smell of diesel smoke...... opened it at Birdsville last year to a fine coating of red "Development Road" dust throughout, but never black smoke!!!! LOL.....


Hope this helps, and good luck with your hunt for a trailer. Personally, we wouldn't part with ours for all the rum in Bundaberg!

Cheers

Brian

Porl,
with every hilux non turbo I've owned I have the injectors set to a higher pressure and have the pump advanced slightly as they are retarded from the factory. End of smoke, better power (if you call it that) and better economy.
Cheers
Dave

Hi Porl,

We also have a '92 GQ Mav/Patrol with aftermarket DTS (MTQ) turbo and tow a Jayco Outback Eagle.
Our car has done 173,000Km with injectors done at 186,000Km when Turbo fitted and we have no dirty diesel fumes in camper or soot over front of camper.
I usually sit around 100Kph cruising and as Brian explained use an educated right foot.You will learn where the optimum throttle level for conditions is but if this doesn't cure your black smoke then as others have said you have to look at injectors etc.
Hope this helps.

Mike

Hi Porl,
Make sure your air cleaner element is spotless, when they get dirty this is a common cause of smoke. Could also be worth while checking out a larger free flowing exhaust. If it breathing better their will be less smoke.
Good luck Pete