The Black Plume Of Death!

[Crasstoe]

Help would be greatly appreciated on this one. Booked the car in to Toyota for a health check and service after I got a scare a few days ago. Low Engine Oil warning came up, then 5 seconds later it vanished... odd... then for the first time there is LOTS of black sooty smoke out the back, I shrug it off, put my foot down, massive cloud, car pulls as normal, no smoking.

Next day driving to work the warning comes back, and sure enough %$( loads of smoke, floor it, warning vanishes and smoke does too... Checked the oil on both occasions and it is just below the High Line on the dip stick.

Anyone come across this before on any car before? Toyota say they haven't had reports of this before but are happy to investigate when servicing the car.

[avensis57tr]

I'm not entirely sure but my mum had the 2.0 d4d avensis the same as in the Auris and at one point she had a similar issue where there was loads of black smoke and the car seemed sluggish at junctions but fine when booted. Turned out to be a dirty egr valve which was clogged with soot. May be worth getting it cleaner or replaced. Made the Avensis run smoother, quicker and more economical.

[acetip]

cant see a dirty egr valve effecting oil pressure. is there any other fault light coming on,wich you would expect if with the symmtoms your getting.

maybe if egr is cleaned then batt disconnected for a while,to reset things, all maybe ok.

[Daveyonthemove]

Do you still have your tuning box fitted?

[Crasstoe]

I do but it has given me no issues, car runs fine and pulls well so I would be reluctant to agree that it was causing an issue. Filled up at a Shell Garage and no more black smoke so I think it was just the crud that Sainsburys calls fuel causing the smoke... the oil however I think may be just low, as it seems to only come on when going up hill now... car is just coming up to 27k miles and has yet to have a major service... may take it in early. Any thoughts on it being a dead oil filter?

[Daveyonthemove]

I wasn't suggesting the tuning box was the problem, but if it was me i would remove it first before panicking and booking it into the garage.

But if you are using supermarket fuel then that could explain it.

[Crasstoe]

I'll be removing it before the service, its due next month anyway so may as well get it done early :)