Black Smoke all of a sudden

[SRehberg]

I have a '03 2500 2500 4x4 with the 235 HP automatic. It is bone stock everything (no gauges yet as we just bought it) with 100K miles. To my knowledge it's the original lift pump and injectors and no black boxes. The truck is used for a daily 200 mile round trip commute. I took it to the body shop for a long bed scrape and it was running fine, just puffed a bit of smoke on accelerating. Three days later I pick up the truck and noticed while lightly accelerating it was smoking like a big dog; the engine was still warming up, performance seems normal. Running down the road any acceleration made smoke that didn't use to be there. The fuel mileage meter hasn't changed in mpg readout nor any 'check engine' light illiumination. I will check asap the OBD II codes to see if it set any.



After running about 15 miles things seemed to have cleared up. I did record mileage at the time of dropping the truck off at the body shop and picking it up to confirm it wasn't out of the shop area. The air filter was changed a month ago so I'm at a loss... . any ideas? Thanks!!

 

[Mishkaya]

Checking for codes would be a good thing. When I had black smoke on acceleration on my '05 it turned out to be a leaky rail valve, but performance was down a fair amount in that case. Could be a number of different things though; such as a bad MAP sensor or rail pressure sensor and the list goes on a bit...

 

[SRehberg]

Thanks for the reply; I'll look at the things you suggested. It's not so easy with all the electronics now

 

[GaryOwen]

A dirty air filter will cause black smoke - an easy place to start.

 

[p-Bar]

A dirty air filter will cause black smoke - an easy place to start.

and along with boost pressure

 

[SRehberg]

Thanks for the replies. The air filter has been replaced just recently but I need to check boost. It doesn't seem noticeably low on power but it is something to rule out... . thanks.

 

[SRehberg]

Just an update. It seems we may not have to worry about the smoke issue as the truck maybe totaled. The day after picking it up at the body shop for a bed scrape (by someone else) our son was driving the truck home on the freeway. Some dummy in a Lexus decided it was their off ramp so came across 2 lanes and broadsided the truck. The Lexus tried to climb the front tire of the truck with it's mirror on the hood. It knocked the truck sideways with the impact. The whole side is damaged, doors caved in, rear structural post bent, bed damaged, bumpers misaligned etc etc. So we're waiting for the adjuster to call it DOA or whatever. Smoke is the least of the problems now. Our son is sore (neck/back) but the Highway Patrol cited the gal in the Lexus for her idiotic lane change. The Lexus is totaled. Never a dull moment and I want to thank all for the help with the smoke.

 

[Mishkaya]

Sorry to hear about the truck. Thank goodness no one was hurt. Hopefully you will be able to find another one to replace it... :{

 

[SRehberg]

The trucks become part of the family so it's hard to see it so bent up. :{