Black smoke under full throttle?!

[ChrisAshton84]

I decided to see how quickly the car could accelerate, turning onto an open highway (it's good to know in an emergency!) I was _very_ surprised to see a huge black cloud of smoke appear behind me. It was thick enough that I couldn't see a car behind me through it until they passed through the cloud. It looked like what a diesel will sometimes belch out when they're going all-out, very sooty.

 

The engine didn't make any horrible noises or anything, but it also didn't accelerate too quickly... it still probably took 10 seconds to get to 55. No CEL, and oil life is still reported at over 50%.

 

Any ideas what this could be? I won't have a chance to take this in until next week.

[GrySql]

I decided to see how quickly the car could accelerate, turning onto an open highway (it's good to know in an emergency!) I was _very_ surprised to see a huge black cloud of smoke appear behind me. It was thick enough that I couldn't see a car behind me through it until they passed through the cloud. It looked like what a diesel will sometimes belch out when they're going all-out, very sooty.

 

The engine didn't make any horrible noises or anything, but it also didn't accelerate too quickly... it still probably took 10 seconds to get to 55. No CEL, and oil life is still reported at over 50%.

 

Any ideas what this could be? I won't have a chance to take this in until next week.

Perform a Vehicle Health Report and send it your Ford account, see what it says. If there are any warnings or codes, do print it out for the Dealer.

 

That is not a typical performance side effect, something was wrong. With the Traction and ICE motors working together the FFH has good performance, without drama.

I've done the same 'emergency test' and taken the car to 100 mph without any odd smoke screens, or anything else except a smile on my face (thinking of a Prius).

If you look at your tailpipe and it is extra sooty, this happens again or the car acts abnormal - see your Dealer and have them hook it up to their computer.

 

Getting Ashley, our Forum Ford Rep, involved can help improve your Dealer experience.

[SteveB_TX]

Black smoke indicates a overly rich fuel mixture. Blue smoke would be excessive oil burning. Has it done it a second time, or was this a one-time event?

[Griswald]

IMO, since we rarely ever use more than 1/2 throttle, the black smoke thing doesn't seem out of line. Any vehicle not driven hard, then suddenly floored will smoke. Thats just carbon or other stuff that builds up in the cylinders being pushed out by the rapidly rising cylinder pressure.

 

I wouldn't worry...also I wouldn't do that very often...I'm just not sure that the Atkinson cycle engines are really good at full throttle long duration applications. They have huge valve overlap that pushes some unburnt air-fuel mixture back into the intake and on the next intake stroke, all that extra air-fuel has to go somewhere. I'd bet the charge is very rich after a few cycles, causing smoke. Adding that to the unburnt stuff and look at what you get.

[Easy Rider]

IMO, since we rarely ever use more than 1/2 throttle, the black smoke thing doesn't seem out of line. Any vehicle not driven hard, then suddenly floored will smoke.

 

Owners of all kinds of vehicles experience this.

I've seen it most recently reported on the Chevy Volt forum.

 

The density of the smoke in this case might be a slight concern......if it is not exaggerated, that is.

 

I suggest trying it again and if the smoke is less, don't worry about it.

[Griswald]

Owners of all kinds of vehicles experience this.

I've seen it most recently reported on the Chevy Volt forum.

 

The density of the smoke in this case might be a slight concern......if it is not exaggerated, that is.

 

I suggest trying it again and if the smoke is less, don't worry about it.

 

I agree, the unburnt stuff should all be gone now and a bit of smoke now wouldn't be a big deal.

[FordService]

I decided to see how quickly the car could accelerate, turning onto an open highway (it's good to know in an emergency!) I was _very_ surprised to see a huge black cloud of smoke appear behind me. It was thick enough that I couldn't see a car behind me through it until they passed through the cloud. It looked like what a diesel will sometimes belch out when they're going all-out, very sooty.

 

The engine didn't make any horrible noises or anything, but it also didn't accelerate too quickly... it still probably took 10 seconds to get to 55. No CEL, and oil life is still reported at over 50%.

 

Any ideas what this could be? I won't have a chance to take this in until next week.

 

ChrisAshton84,

 

If you decide to take your Fusion in to have the dealer take a look, let me know. Just send me over a PM with your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info. I'll look into it for you.

 

Ashley

[kuzzi]

Owners of all kinds of vehicles experience this.

I've seen it most recently reported on the Chevy Volt forum.

 

The density of the smoke in this case might be a slight concern......if it is not exaggerated, that is.

 

I suggest trying it again and if the smoke is less, don't worry about it.

+1

[lolder]

IMO, since we rarely ever use more than 1/2 throttle, the black smoke thing doesn't seem out of line. Any vehicle not driven hard, then suddenly floored will smoke. Thats just carbon or other stuff that builds up in the cylinders being pushed out by the rapidly rising cylinder pressure.

 

I wouldn't worry...also I wouldn't do that very often...I'm just not sure that the Atkinson cycle engines are really good at full throttle long duration applications. They have huge valve overlap that pushes some unburnt air-fuel mixture back into the intake and on the next intake stroke, all that extra air-fuel has to go somewhere. I'd bet the charge is very rich after a few cycles, causing smoke. Adding that to the unburnt stuff and look at what you get.

Actually, the Atkinson cycle ICEs operate at almost full throttle ( plate opening ) all the time. What they don't do is operate at high RPM or percentage of max power very often. A full go pedal application that quickly yields maximum RPM and power may be scavenging something nestled in the intake manifold. The Gen 1 FFH 2010-12 would sometimes put out white smoke at full throttle in right turns that is thought to be due to a design flaw where full oil levels slant under G's and the crankshaft hits it and froths the surface and the PCV valve sucks it into the engine.

[GrySql]

but it also didn't accelerate too quickly... it still probably took 10 seconds to get to 55. No CEL, and oil life is still reported at over 50%.

 

This is the part that bothers me, the very slow acceleration. This is a new car, when has it had time to collect a carbon build up?

A mild, quick puff of smoke from time to time is one thing but a low mileage car that has trouble hitting normal performance markers and has an abnormal belch of smoke at the same time is odd.

 

The only other mention of carbon build up on this Forum (regarding 2013 - 2014 FFH's) was acdii's that had fouled plugs at 4,000 miles, it was a lemon.

We had several mentions of sooty exhaust pipes for a while very early on, around early 2013.

 

Okay, try it again as a test, sure.

If it was mine and wouldn't accelerate better than that at any time, I'd find out why.

[ChrisAshton84]

Wow everyone, thanks for the responses. I haven't tried full throttle again, but I will just to see whether it cranks out more smoke. I was surprised since I understood the engine operates at close to full load (peak efficiency) whenever possible, though I know it isn't also peak RPMs. I have some other issues the dealer needs to take care of, so I'll take it in no matter what. The slow acceleration did surprise me, but I had probably 600 pounds of people & gear in the car, so I didn't give it much thought. The car may normally seem zippy but 180 claimed HP doesn't seem like much for that much weight.

 

BTW, I wasn't exaggerating about the smoke. It was a solid cloud thick enough I couldn't see through it for a good 50 feet or so.

[Easy Rider]

The slow acceleration did surprise me, but I had probably 600 pounds of people & gear in the car, so I didn't give it much thought.

 

Mmmmmm......next time you test it, I suggest that you be in the car ALONE. Just on general principles. :)

[hybridbear]

Wow everyone, thanks for the responses. I haven't tried full throttle again, but I will just to see whether it cranks out more smoke. I was surprised since I understood the engine operates at close to full load (peak efficiency) whenever possible, though I know it isn't also peak RPMs. I have some other issues the dealer needs to take care of, so I'll take it in no matter what. The slow acceleration did surprise me, but I had probably 600 pounds of people & gear in the car, so I didn't give it much thought. The car may normally seem zippy but 180 claimed HP doesn't seem like much for that much weight.

 

BTW, I wasn't exaggerating about the smoke. It was a solid cloud thick enough I couldn't see through it for a good 50 feet or so.

Have you been able to test it again?

[Ryan Goodlett]

IMO, since we rarely ever use more than 1/2 throttle, the black smoke thing doesn't seem out of line. Any vehicle not driven hard, then suddenly floored will smoke. Thats just carbon or other stuff that builds up in the cylinders being pushed out by the rapidly rising cylinder pressure.

 

I wouldn't worry...also I wouldn't do that very often...I'm just not sure that the Atkinson cycle engines are really good at full throttle long duration applications. They have huge valve overlap that pushes some unburnt air-fuel mixture back into the intake and on the next intake stroke, all that extra air-fuel has to go somewhere. I'd bet the charge is very rich after a few cycles, causing smoke. Adding that to the unburnt stuff and look at what you get.

 

The fuel that renters the intake is exhaust gas and not unburned fuel. This reintroduction of exhaust gas into the intake creates a higher mixture of inert gas / fresh air and fuel in the combustion chamber therefore making the combustion cycle more complete and lowering emissions.

[Griswald]

Ok, just under 3000 miles and I had the opportunity to stomp on my FFH to check for smoke. Pulled onto a long strsight road with no traffic anywhere around. At around 20, I put the (switch) pedal to the floor. I left it thrre until I hit 85 and then backed off. No smoke at all.

 

A reasonable rate of acceleration, its no hot rod, but its OK. Not sure how fast it would go but it was still pulling a bit at 85. Any idea what the top speed actually is?

[gemdc]

Really, with the "sort of Atkinson" cycle in our hybrids, there is unburnt fuel / air mixture in the intake due to the intake valve being open during first part of the compression stroke. That pushes part of the incoming charge back into the intake manifold to prep for the next intake stroke. Supposedly improves efficiency. Should not be cumulative though to cause the black smoke. Does cause an extra growl in the engine as the push / pull causes turbulence in the intake.

 

I notice my engine is much quieter during the initial warm up phase while the ignition timing is retarded then changes to louder abruptly when it switches to the next phase of warm up. You might get some different exhaust if you hit heavy acceleration while the engine was still in phase one of warm up. Not likely as it doesn't stay there long. You would notice a lack of power if you floored it with a cold engine as the timing would be retarded. Don't know about the smoke possibility.

[GrySql]

Not sure how fast it would go but it was still pulling a bit at 85. Any idea what the top speed actually is?

See this, about one year ago.

 

[Hybrider]

So this afternoon on a warm summer day, 85°, with a total of 4 adults in my car including myself (about 500 extra pounds), with my FFH engine at normal fully-heated operating temperature, I was demonstrating to my the passengers how well the FFH can accelerate under wide-open throttle (WOT) conditions even though I just about never do WOT otherwise, and afterwards I did see a large white cloud behind my car.

[lolder]

The 2010-12s do it during a right turn WOT acceleration if the oil level is at the full mark or above. Don't worry about the white smoke.

[jeff_h]

The 2010-12s do it during a right turn WOT acceleration if the oil level is at the full mark or above. Don't worry about the white smoke.

 

Just call the car 'Spy Hunter'