[Vwdiesel] 82 diesel vanagon smokes more uphill - normal?

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

> can do them in 3rd gear, but notice an increase in smoke from the exhaust
>  when I do so.  I'm wondering if this is 'normal' and whether it would be
>  better to change to 2nd gear, even though the engine would be rev-ing more,
>  perhaps it would not be working so hard?

  Color of smoke makes a difference as to what the cause is.  Black smoke 
is basically too much fuel and that could be from worn injectors, incorrect 
timing or a tired engine.  The pump can be set back a little if all else is 
fine.
  Grayish smoke is normal.  You don't want it thick or it implies things 
aren't burning all that cleanly, such as low compression, carboned up 
valves, rings, bad injectors or timing being off.
  WHITE smoke with a sweet smell is coolant.  Blown head gasket or 
cracked head or block.
  Blue smoke leaning white or gray is oil and can be from blowby 
usually.  Oil could be going past the rings or excess blowby can 
carry droplets of oil into the intake.  A crudded up valve cover screen 
(usually from incorrect oil) can exacerbate the problem, as can a bad 
vacuum pump diaphragm, or dirty air filter.  Incorrect oil can have caused 
the rings to stick letting oil past them. 
  White smoke with a grayish tint is unburned fuel.  Timing really off, 
really 
bad injector, usually a cold engine thing.
  That about cover it?  :)
     Loren