Another, different (sorta), blue smoke problem

[Hogan]

I read the recent thread on blue smoke hoping it would answer my problem, but didn't quite do it. It was close, though!



Truck: 97 2500, 145k miles.



After my recent drive to AZ (2 days ago), my truck started blowing blue smoke in the morning. It's quite a bit of smoke, too, but only lasts for a few minutes until things have warmed up a little. Reading the other thread, it sounds like the timing on my pump is off. It only smokes when cold and has been sitting overnight and once it goes away after a few mins or so it's gone for the rest of the day. I checked the turbo, there's no play and spins freely, no oil in the intake, no excessive blow-by, the oil level hasn't changed...



Also, it DOES stumble around 2000-2200rpm and that's about where it really starts smoking, it seems to be fine around 1500rpm and doesn't smoke there. No loss of power, except pre-boost... but I'm also at 6000ft+ compared to where I used to live which is around 5ft.



Also, it does seem to clatter more... or maybe I'm just being extra sensitive to sounds with this smoke problem.



Any guesses on the problem? If it is the timing, what might I expect to have a shop charge to adjust it? Hopefully it's not horribly expensive, I'm pretty strapped for cash right now and every penny counts.



Is there any harm in driving it this way until I can get it fixed?



Thanks all!

 

[Todd G]

Mine smokes big blue on startup at altitude. I try and let the grid heater go on to help. With my fuel plate full forward and AFC forward, I guess I deserve it.

 

[Hogan]

Hmmm, interesting. My torque plate is slid and AFC is cranked up a little as well, I don't remember it doing this the last time I was here a couple of months ago, though... then again, it was also warmer outside back then. Thanks for the info, I feel a LITTLE better now. I have an 8-hour round-trip drive to Tucson today, too.

 

[Todd G]

I'm heading up to the mountains this afternoon ( Crown King, AZ).

I'll kill a few mosquitos while I'm up there.

 

[Hogan]

Well, apparently pulling the upper intake today did some good, I think I tightened the hose clamp better this time, my mpg is up and power is up, went 375mi before reaching half a tank instead of 300, so some good came out of this. General consensus is that the smoke is normal at altitude from a number of sources, so I'll stop worrying.



How was your trip to Crown King?

 

[Todd G]

Crown King was cool. Actually 25 degrees cooler



Any place is better than Phoenix in the summer.

 

[Deezul1]

The local Cummins shop qouted me $130. 00 to set timing