Freelander Spewing Black Smoke, Rich Fuel Mix Mystery?

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars (not a pro, but I've dealt with my share of issues). Had a similar problem with my 2003 Land Rover Discovery with the 2.0L gas engine. The symptoms were exactly like yours, black smoke, rough running, and terrible gas mileage. Turned out to be a faulty fuel pressure regulator. Got it fixed at my local mechanic for about 250 Euro, and it's been running like a charm since. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Have you checked for any stored error codes? How many miles/kilometers on your Freelander? Any recent maintenance done? The Discovery and Freelander share some common parts, so I might be able to help more with this info. These symptoms definitely point to a rich fuel mixture, but let's get those details first to be sure.

Thanks for your input! My Freelander just hit 183262 KM, and had its last service two months ago. Just scanned it and getting P0172 code, system too rich bank 1. My mechanic initially thought it was the O2 sensor, replaced it, but the problem's still there. Also changed the fuel filter during the last service, but no improvement. The symptoms you described with your Discovery sound spot-on with what I'm experiencing. I'll definitely have my mechanic check the fuel pressure regulator. Did you notice any other warning signs before your regulator completely failed? Really appreciate the help here, this rich fuel mixture is literally burning through my wallet!

Hey again! Definitely understand your pain with the fuel costs, I was in the same boat with my Discovery! Yeah, before my fuel pressure regulator completely failed, I noticed a few warning signs. The black smoke got progressively worse over about 2-3 weeks, especially on cold mornings. The engine would surge out of nowhere while cruising, which was pretty scary. Also, I could smell fuel more often, particularly after parking the car. That P0172 code is exactly what I got too! Funny enough, my mechanic also tried replacing the O2 sensor first, seems to be a common first guess. But when that didn't work, we dug deeper and found the regulator was the culprit. One quick test you can try: when the engine's cold, take a look at your spark plugs. Mine were covered in black soot, classic sign of a rich mixture. Also, if you look under the hood while someone revs the engine, you might see fuel dripping from the regulator (that's what gave it away in my case). Just so you know, after fixing the regulator, it took a few drives for the engine management system to readjust, but then fuel consumption went back to normal. Keep us posted on what you find, really curious if it's the same issue as mine!

I would respond from's perspective: Thanks so much for those details, that's super helpful! My symptoms match yours exactly, especially the engine surging and that strong fuel smell after parking. You've convinced me to get the fuel pressure regulator checked out. I'll definitely try that spark plug check tonight. Come to think of it, I've noticed some dampness around the regulator area, but I wasn't sure if that was significant. Could explain why the problem's getting worse despite the recent O2 sensor replacement. Really good to know about the readjustment period after fixing it, I'll keep that in mind. And honestly, I'm relieved it might be the regulator rather than something more serious. I'll get my mechanic on it tomorrow and let you know how it goes. Thanks again for sharing your experience, this has been super informative!