Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) A little on the smokey side

[Big_Daddy_T]

I get a significant amount of white smoke on startup. Im not used to that. Fule mileage has plummeted and I am lucky to get 10mpg. The smoke smells like an old diesel space heater. It burns my eyes. It smokes even after I head down the road. Not getting a good burn. Even after its warm it looks like a gas engine with the water vapors coming out the pipe. Any ideas. My last one didnt do any of this. The exhaust didnt smell like diesel exhaust. Not stinky. I dont remember it ever smoking. Well you know what I mean . I dont have a fuel pressure guage but I have a new lift pump.

Next time I buy a diesel. Im gonna smell the exhaust first. This one has not impressed me.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Please, tell us what year truck it is. Have you gotten some bad fuel causing the low mileage and smell?



White smoke is raw, vaporized unburned fuel. Usually you get that during very cold weather on startup. Once you get some heat into the engine, it should clear up. I don't remember ever seeing any water vapor coming out of my trucks or tractor. However, last week, I started my tractor and still had white smoke on acceleration with it after 15 minutes at high idle (1200 rpms). Once I put the engine under load and got the temperature up, the white smoke stopped.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Its a 99 and continues to produce white smoke after its warm. The exhaust really smells. Its not every now and then its all the time so I would figure somewhere in there I woulda got good fuel if it was because of bad. It burns my eyes so I know there is unburnt fuel for sure. I cannot stand the smell. Im actually wondering if my mileage has dropped to sub 10. When I got it 13-14 was normal. Then it dropped to 12. Then lower. Lift pump went south. I dont have any guages on it as it is mostly stock. I guess I will put on my fuel pressure guage soon if time permits. I havent been looking forward to it. Im trying to sell it so Im not gonna put pyro on it.

 

[Sticks]

Check your air filter, turbo for play, and your intercooler boots on both sides to make sure they have no tears in them and they are tight.



Are your grid heaters working?



Have you checked for codes? Lots of white smoke after warm up and poor power and mileage would indicate a dead or dieing VP44. If you had a LP go south on you, that could have doomed the VP if not caught in time.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Its under warranty so I hope it goes out soon. I inspected the boots this summer. Grid works great. Its AK and has been 20 below more than once already. Id be in trouble if it didnt.



I have suspected a faulty 44 but wanted a second opinion. Truck kinda sucked right from the get go. I havent looked close to see if its the original 44. Im pretty sure it is though. Its only 2 months into the 99 production so its possible it is an early 44 failure. I had one of those on my 98. 5. The second pump was even better than the first on the 98. 5 so I wouldnt complain too much if this baby went. I ran the edge comp w/o pump wire for a week or two but the transmission said no. So im just runnin 275s and the comp as a boost fooler. Im pretty confident I didnt cause the failure.



P. S. if its on its way out the winter fuel up here should finish it off.

 

[tractorface]

just a precaution

I doubt this is your problem... . but. a bad head gasket or cracked head can allow water into the cylinder which causes white smoke. With no Catalytic converter to heat up and burn it off it would smoke even when hot. I had an Isuzu Trooper do this (they are famopus for cracking heads). Anyway just keep an eye on the coolant level. Hope I am way off on this one

 

[stevek]

My 1999 had that same problem last year, turned out to be a clogged fuel filter. The only thing different in my case was above 2300rpm it would start to miss pretty bad... steve

 

[JJW_ND]

Smoke all the time normal....

Once air temps go much below -15 or so, diesels continue to smoke when under a load (not idling or coasting).



And boy to they white smoke when first starting them up.



My 96 did not have any stinky smell until I changed the timing (advanced) and put in a thicker head gasket.



jjw

ND

 

[JR2]

I see you got another Dodge, sorry to hear about the last one. The supermentals you sold me are running good in my buddy twin turboed truck. Anyway on to your problem...



Mine smokes all the time when it gets cold (0 or below). My Dad's does the same thing, same with my brothers. My mileage is crappy to, 10 if probably the lowest it gets but that is with lots of idle time to warm it up. Unless its down on power I don't think anything is wrong.