Cat3208-white smoke-not oil

[Ncostello]

Our Ford C8000 fire engine with a Cat 3208 will usually smoke white upon taking off when "cold". It won't puff white on start up... just when it gets some throttle. After the initial take off... it won't do it anymore.



When the engine is up to operating temps... it will puff just a hint of black smoke on a take off... and a tiny stream of black smoke when crusing down the highway.



But my question is why will it smoke white on its initial take off before up to operating temps? And even after fully warmed up... if you let it idle for about 20-30 minutes it will white smoke on the initial take off again.



Are the cylinders too cool for complete combustion? I've tried Stanadyne Performance formula but it really didn't help this problem. The thermostats are working properly so I'm getting 180 temps eventually. And its not burning oil as the level never moves on the dipstick between changes. If it were burning oil... I think I could smell that. The odor of this white smoke is definately diesel fuel. Any ideas on why or how to cure? Thanks

 

[RustyJC]

But my question is why will it smoke white on its initial take off before up to operating temps? And even after fully warmed up... if you let it idle for about 20-30 minutes it will white smoke on the initial take off again.

Incomplete combustion of diesel fuel at low temperature = white smoke. The white smoke is primarily tiny unburned diesel fuel droplets. Incomplete combustion of diesel fuel at high temperatures = black smoke. The black smoke is carbon soot that has not been completely oxidized in the combustion process.



Insofar as the white smoke after extended idle - you might want to do a search on "wet stacking". The 7. 3L Powerstrokes are prone to this - they will build up unburned fuel during extended idling that shows up as white smoke when load is finally applied.



Rusty

 

[supersonic]

As far as I know that is just the nature of the 3208. Every one iv'e ever seen does that. They are an extermely inefficient engine and pretty much smoke all the time.

 

[MPalachuk]

Talk to a cat dealer and ask them about timing, I remember I did one and we changed the timing and it helped. Something like pin the flywheel and loosen the pump drive and rotate the dampner 1/8 of an inch one way or the other and tighten the pump bolt. Something like that. We had one fire truck that we reset and it cleaned up alot of the smoke and the sister truck smoked prety good. Good luck

 

[Ncostello]

Thanks guys. I'll talk with the local Cat dealer. They were pretty nice to deal with a couple years ago when I needed some parts. While it does smoke like I mentioned... its not a huge amount when it does. Just enough for me to notice it. Kinda embarrasing more than obnoxious. More like a hazy puff of white. And after it does it once on first drive off... it won't do it again.



But that first drive off is usually out of the bay... and you eat smoke later when you come back. When its pumping under full power... you can hardly stand to be on the passenger side of the truck near the rear wheel. Those "invisible" diesel fumes are really obnoxious back there. Very inefficient. Our ISC8. 3L truck on the other hand is much more tolerable thanks to technology.

 

[bmoeller]

Thanks guys. I'll talk with the local Cat dealer.

You could also send a PM to MMiller. He works for Cat.



I've been around a couple of 3208s. They all poured out white smoke on initial startup cold. Doesn't matter what the outside temps were.



On one we, had to rebuild the heads. Had some bent valves and bad seats/guides. After that, the smoke (white and black) was reduced quite a bit and also cut fuel consumption by a couple gal/hr.

 

[GEM]

Just live with the smoke. I drove 3208's in orange and black oil field frac pump trucks. All smoked at startup(northern winters) then quit when up to temp. None of them would start without ether unless left inside with reznor's blowing on them. The engine was pretty bullit proof though as it performed double duty as road engine and then changed over to frac fluid blender(3 c pumps and massive hydraulics) motor for the all day-all night jobs and never went down. I have no words to describe how harsh the work environment was on them... ... wow, I don't know if this has been a fond memory or a nightmare? Both I guess.