Black smoke coming out of the exhaust

Tiny
FIREENGINE1
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 FORD EXPLORER
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 327,000 MILES
Just started running real bad and has thick black smoke coming out the exhaust.
Wednesday, December 20th, 2017 AT 7:50 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,443 POSTS
Black smoke = excess fuel. Could be high fuel pressure, stuck open injector(s), fuel pressure regulator failure. I would start with a pressure test as a starting point.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator
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Wednesday, December 20th, 2017 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
FIREENGINE1
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Same vehicle that was running poorly throwing out black smoke now has
overheated and wont start. Fluids are good. Is it the head?
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Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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Without testing it could be a variety of things. Did the black smoke issue get repaired before the overheating or did it just run that way until it died? If the coolant level is OK then it either has a water pump issue, the fan failed or there is an internal engine failure like a head gasket.

Does it turn over but not run or?
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Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
FIREENGINE1
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
It went from running good to crappy throwing out black coffe grind exhaust. Then
2 wks later quit running and will turn over but not start. Wouldn't a water pump
be leaking?
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Friday, December 29th, 2017 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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Not if the impeller failed. It just wouldn't move the water.
Was it just black smoke or actual grit and pieces? If it was that it could be that the converter(s) failed and are plugged up. That would also cause it to overheat because the exhaust would be blocked.

Run a back pressure test on the system. A quick method to see if it is blocked is to disconnect the exhaust at the manifolds and see if it runs better.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter
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Friday, December 29th, 2017 AT 11:58 AM
Tiny
FIREENGINE1
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
This vehicle passed emissions 2 weeks prior to its down turn and was in the bottom
%30 of carbons ect. Its's a v6 and I had rebuilt just the bad side of the head myself 3 yrs ago
there is no fluids where they don't belong. Pulled the radiator cap off and cranked it and no radiator fluid shot out. With it going through emissions so easy could it still be the exhaust? Thanks for helping me steve
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Friday, December 29th, 2017 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
FIREENGINE1
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Or converter
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Friday, December 29th, 2017 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,443 POSTS
It all depends on what failed and when. Coolant and excess fuel into the system could easily plug it up fast. I would start there and work my way back to the engine. Black smoke is pretty much always excess fuel through the engine. That can kill a converter quick and the converter could cause overheating. The hard part is knowing if it's worth repairing that engine or just putting in a replacement. That all depends on what you find with the fuel and exhaust systems.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 8:10 AM
Tiny
FIREENGINE1
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Thanks for your help steve. 1 more question. Could it be a plug
not firing? I bought new wire"s and plugs thinking that. Maybe
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 9:57 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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One plug missing wouldn't cause it to be this bad.
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Monday, January 1st, 2018 AT 6:20 PM

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