It sounds to me like your timing may be off.  Blue smoke is oil, white smoke is water - I don't know what black smoke means!  I'd run a compression check too.

 --- On Tue 09/09, Andy Morse < AudibleA@AOL.COM > wrote:
From: Andy Morse [mailto: AudibleA@AOL.COM]
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 14:04:36 EDT
Subject: Sputtering still !!!!!

I 've owned this van for a month now and I still can't drive it! 86 syncro.<br>Symptoms...starts fine, new plugs, new water pump, new fuel filter.. gets up to<br>temp fine and then starts cutting out, black smoke, back fires...BOOM.., no<br>power, then sometimes regains it for a very short spell. I installed the<br>capacitor for the air flow and not a bit of difference. Could this be a fuel<br>pressure regulator problem? ( I can't remember what backfiring and black smoke mean,<br>too much fuel, not enough?)It defiantly seems like some sort of fuel problem,<br>but why is it non existent in the beginning?<br><br><br>Last shot and then it's off to the mechanics, grudgingly.<br><br>Thanks for any info,<br>                    Andy<br><br>99 NB Turbo<br>95 BMW GS 1100<br>93 BMW K 75<br>86 VW Syncro<br>71 VW Westy (For sale, needs motor)<br>65 BMW R69S grandfather's<br>Can't seem to pass up a deal....<br>

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