1.9TiD engine power loss.

[Max Headroom]

History: EGR valve sticks and keeps putting engine management light on, (I had it apart and cleaned this a couple of years ago as it had seized) but about five months ago it started coming on agian, so have acquired a replacement valve but not fitted it yet. I was also  considering blanking it off but have not got around to doing either.
Car has been fine for past couple of years with no problems whatsoever.

Car serviced in last two weeks. (Carried out by SAAB in Oxford)
Two journeys made since service, one back from the service itself to Gloucestershire, and another, a good fast run up to Bromsgrove and back just three days ago. No problems during either journey.

Today I got in the car to head off to Thame. Car starts and idles as normal while I set up Sat-nav and make a phone call.

I pull off the drive (a downhill slope) and set off up the road but notice I have no power; rpm won't go over 2000. having gone a few hundred yards I pull over, shut the engine down to see if it will reset itself and behave when I restart.
There are no captions (other than Eng Management light from previously mentioned sticky EGR valve) and the self check runs fine.

Several restarts to reset everything, and I notice that I can achieve 4000 rpm shortly after starting the engine, but after a while it eventually wont achieve more than 2000rpm.

Any suggestions invited.

I'll probably have to call AA and get it back to the folk that serviced it.


 

[Alan]

Had similar with mine last year. Code was for EGR valve but the actual problem was a clogged inlet manifold.
 AA man poked around after taking EGR valve off and it was running ok.
 I don't know if it was related to all the crud in the manifold being loosened but a couple of days later I had to take it in for a manual regen of the DPF.
It had been smoking when regenning for a while but after the manual regen and a dose of Saab branded snake oil it has stopped smoking.
There is a long post on the use of 2 stroke oil on the freelander 2 forum, benefits claimed include greater distance between regens, cleaner EGR / inlet manifold, quieter engine and better MPG.
I've not used it in my Saab but we are using it in the wifes freelander (non DPF engine). I can't say it is any quieter and have no idea if the EGR is any cleaner but it has gone from 35mpg to 41mpg.

[Audax]

Check the actuator for the swirl flaps is still in place and working, also check for split hoses. If not I would suggest EGR off, cleaned/replaced and see how it goes.

[Max Headroom]

Thanks guys.

AA man visited and he couldn't find anything conclusive - he looked at various sensors, and pipes for leaks.

I hope it isn't the inlet manifold - my swirl flaps came adrift some three or four years ago and I had the manifold replaced at serious expense. I've still got the old one and notice that there is a repair kit now available for about £15 or so on flea-Bay.

Anyway car is now back over at Oxford for a bit of scrutiny and diagnostics. What a waste of a day when things like this happen!

Alan are you able to link me to that 2-stroke article? Sounds intriguing.

Thanks again.

[Alan]

Here you are. http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic878.html

[Max Headroom]

Thank you kindly 

[fka]

There's a study here that suggests adding 2 stroke is maybe not such a great idea.

http://www.fuelexpert.co.za/2-stroke-oil-in-diesel-technical-study.php

D

[Audax]

http://www.fuelexpert.co.za/2-stroke-oil-in-diesel-technical-study.php

That's linked to in the other thread I think, it seemed people had 3 opinions, that were "It's great do this!" another was "no difference to my car" and another of "don't do this it made everything go wrong".

[fka]

sounds like a standard formula for an internet debate 

[Max Headroom]

That's linked to in the other thread I think, it seemed people had 3 opinions, that were "It's great do this!" another was "no difference to my car" and another of "don't do this it made everything go wrong".

Heheh - that just about covers all angles then 

[Alan]

As Sasol are a fuel company do you think they would publish anything other than that.
 One thing that makes me think they have used the best figures in the tests for their diesel and the worst figures when 2SO is added is the amount of zinc they claim to have found.
Their diesel has no zinc, they add 2SO containing 16ppm of zinc at a ratio of 200:1 so should end up with fuel containing 0.08ppm but claim there is up to three times that amount.

[Max Headroom]

Back to the top of this thread...

It sounds as if this problem was caused by a mass-flow sensor.
I assume if my egr valve was stuck then there was a high chance of this happening.

Maybe I will blank it off when I get the car back   

[collywobble]

Some time ago the journo who writes under the name Doctor Diesel in Diesel Car magazine gave a method of cleaning the MAF by revving up to 3000 rpm and turning the engine off. Apparently it heats up the wire in the MAF valve/sensor which burns any deposits off.  Shouldn't be done too often though- I do it about every six months to both our cars and have had no ill effects yet.

[Max Headroom]

Hmmm... I like the theory behind it.