MOT failed :( Advice needed for using Redex please

[anonymous-user]

My Hilux Surf (2.4td) failed today on emissions - I think I know why - I drive it like a paranoid nun after having to replace the cylinder head a few years ago, and it only does 4 11-mile journeys a week, in traffic, so never gets thrashed. in fact I never exceed about 2500 rpm.

Anyway, I need some advice on using Redex - the chap at the garage says to fill a new fuel filter with Redex when fitting, and put the rest in the tank, then blat it around for a while to clear it.

So is it safe to fill the new filter with just pure Redex? Does it combust like diesel? I don't want to flood it and hydrolock it or something.

Secondly, are there any problems with putting a whole bottle in one tankfull? It says on the bottle to use 1/8 of it per tank, but I guess that's for ongoing maintenance rather than a single big clean?

thanks
James

[stevieturbo]

It will surprise you what a diesel engine will run on.

Another cleaning tip, used to be filling the filter with ATF during a change.

First time I actually did this, I was amazed the car started and ran quite normally.

[odyssey2200]

be careful as some fuel claeners will actually etch the parts insid ethe injector nozzle and have the opposite effect.

Be sure not to add too much.

[cptsideways]

Get some wynns injector cleaner, it works a treat & do the filter trick. Oh & take it for a damn good thrashing to clear all the soot out of the exhaust system, thats whats chokes the mot machine if you drive like miss daisy.

[AlpineAndy]

Millers diesel power plus has got my oilburning workhorse through it's last 2 MOTs. Definitly the best £8 I've ever spent on it. Without it, it smokes like wet wood on a bonfire.

[anonymous-user]

thanks,

I've changed the fuel filter and filled it with Redex, and it started first time, no smoke.

I've thrashed it for 100kms today and I'm going to continue to do so through the rest of this tank of diesel, and then see how it gets on at the MOT retest. I've also added some of the Wynns' no smoke oily stuff to the engine oil, hopefully all this will help.

Strangely I can see no smoke at all even under full throttle acceleration, whereas I've just watched a brand new Mondeo TD disappear in a black cloud as it was booted away. Perhaps the emissions that you fail the MOT on are not visible smoke?

[cptsideways]

Most of the soot the MOT man sees would have been that stuck in your exhaust pipe that is until it hits the rev limiter

[anonymous-user]

Cheers guys,

It's eaten 5/8s of a tank of fuel in just under 180kms so it's getting a damn good thrashing at the moment. I even managed to powerslide it out of junction (in the rain though) which made me grin. For a big truck with crap tyres, brakes and suspension it is great fun to rag about.

Hopefully this will be enough to blast all the soot out and let it pass the MOT. If so, next year I'll add a little Redex with each tank of fuel and drive it harder more often to keep it clean.