Technical 2.8 JTD wastegate

[cjmackie007]

I think my wastegate may be stuck open resulting in lack of power.
Can I check this by using a pair of mole grips on the rod and checking for free movement ? Or is dismantling required ?
TIA

 

[Kevin Adam]

I had a wastegate problem with my 2001 2.8JTD Ducato. The pin the actuator moves had sheared off the wastegate for some reason. I got the local garage to weld on a new pin and it has worked fine since. You can unbolt the actuator and feel the wastegate open and close. It should move easily with one finger. Mark up on the actuator arm where you have it currently adjusted to before you dismantle.

 

[Kevin Adam]

....if your wastegate is jammed open, there is a loss of power, but there is still quite a lot of power. I happily did a few hundred miles in mine as I was in the middle of a holiday, including twice up the Lecht in Scotland, 17 degrees for a couple of miles. Probably bad practice but there you are. Obvious symptom is significant black smoke from the exhaust, especially as you climb hills.

 

[goggs]

And check the actuator actually works.

 

[CDK]

An OBD-2 interface and an app for your phone can show you real time manifold pressure. That is a lot easier than crawling under the van with a pair of pliers.

 

[cjmackie007]

....if your wastegate is jammed open, there is a loss of power, but there is still quite a lot of power. I happily did a few hundred miles in mine as I was in the middle of a holiday, including twice up the Lecht in Scotland, 17 degrees for a couple of miles. Probably bad practice but there you are. Obvious symptom is significant black smoke from the exhaust, especially as you climb hills.

Thanks for input, I have no symptoms other than what seems like lack of power, although I have nothing to compare it to, so it may be as it should be. Just not sure.
Is lack of black smoke an indicator the wastegate is not stuck ?

 

[Kevin Adam]

Waste gate stuck open means the fuel mixture will be rich and the exhaust gas will be very sooty, in my case a trail of black smoke clearly visible, and the end of the pipe lined with soot, so probably not wastegate. I would hook up diagnostics now. My 2001 2.8JTD has a three pin connector clipped to the ECU cover, near the air filter. If you have this let me know and I can explain which cables to buy and what software you need. Cost me about £20 but it's great for helping find faults.

 

[BGD]

Could you post that info about diagnostic adaptors cables, how to connect them, and what software you need here please Kevin...........

 

[cjmackie007]

I have an OBD port on the steering column next to the bonnet release but I don`t think I have the skills or the gear to use it so I think I`ll ask my garage next time it`s in.
Thanks for replies

 

[oigle]

Waste gate stuck open means the fuel mixture will be rich and the exhaust gas will be very sooty, in my case a trail of black smoke clearly visible, and the end of the pipe lined with soot, so probably not wastegate. I would hook up diagnostics now. My 2001 2.8JTD has a three pin connector clipped to the ECU cover, near the air filter. If you have this let me know and I can explain which cables to buy and what software you need. Cost me about £20 but it's great for helping find faults.

That statement goes against what I know about turbo diesels. A stuck wastegate simply prevents the turbo from spooling up and producing inlet air pressure. The fuelling is controlled largely by the amount of air entering the manifold which, when not boosted, is substantially less than normal. Thus fuel injected is less than what would be the case when boosted.
If you are getting lots of black smoke, that is usually caused by a stuck egr valve or split/leaking inlet manifold hoses or intercooler.

Ian.

 

[CDK]

That is correct. The MAP and/or MAF sensors provide info to the ECU about the amount of air rushing through the manifold and the injection volume is adjusted accordingly.
What these sensors do not detect is the amount of oxygen in the air, so a stuck egr valve is the most likely culprit if you see black smoke.

 

[corcai]

That's all nice in theory except that 95% of 2.8jtd have no egr and no maf and in the real word they do blow black smoke when you have low boost because the maps are just an approximation. I can tell you this from experience of popping a hose on a steep incline in one van and having a hole in the intercooler in another.

 

[Torq]

When I rebuilt the engine in my 2nd 2.8 jtd it pumped out black smoke on it's first dual carriage way run. I filled the diesel filter with Liqui Moly diesel purge and took it for another run, that cleaned it out and it's not smoked in the last 9 years of ownership.

My 08 1.8tdci Galaxy also pumped out black smoke when I got it. Found a bodged boost pipe repair with a big hole in it. Replaced the pipe and that was that solved.

 

[oigle]

That's all nice in theory except that 95% of 2.8jtd have no egr and no maf and in the real word they do blow black smoke when you have low boost because the maps are just an approximation. I can tell you this from experience of popping a hose on a steep incline in one van and having a hole in the intercooler in another.

As I said, a split hose or intercooler will create heaps of smoke or, as you say, popping a hose. Any loss of boosted air will cause smoke.

Ian.

 

[Benimardriver]

I think my wastegate may be stuck open resulting in lack of power.
Can I check this by using a pair of mole grips on the rod and checking for free movement ? Or is dismantling required ?
TIA

I found this thread very helpful . I had same symptoms of lacking power under load and puffs of black smoke to the point it actually failed a mot . I’ve just been under and found actuator seized and pin sheered off . Problem I have now is trying to revel piece of sheered pin from lever arm on valve spindle without having to removed turbo as access very poor . Has anyone else been successful doing this job with turbo still in place ?
thanks