Checking to make sure !

[TBarrett]

I have an 01 with just under 8000 miles. In the morning when I start, when its a cold one, I get alot of white with alittle gray smoke in it until my truck is warming up, then it all goes away. I have been watching the fuel gauge and the the last few times its moved over 1/16 less each cold start time. Is this a normal thing. The dealer said the smoke is OK. My mileage went from 19-20 to 16 this winter like everyones I have talked too. Are these diesels going to go thru the fuel like that at start up? I know the diesel is junk, if not for a better word, in winter. I know if I ask here I'll get the right info. Thanks, Terril.

 

[Whitmore]

Terril

I too have an 01 and at start up on cald morns the smoke is normal, try to plug her in if it gets below 20 or 30 , it helps for faster warm ups too and is easier on the all mighty CUMMINS . also the fuel milage deal for the winter is always like that, we idle a bit more consuming more fuel and the fuel is also blended so there is not as much centane in it, kinda like with octane and gas, well diesel and centane. If you can find a place that will sell you straight #2 and then use an additive to prevent gelling that will help as well,on the fuel psi gage I have noticed it to be less psi on cold starts as well, I think its just a bit thick until it starts flowing good and warming up... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . Good luck... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . Kevin

 

[Shovelhead]

We all (diesels and gassers) lose a bit of milage in the winter due to winter-formulated fuel/gas.

Smoke on cold start-up is normal.

As far as the fuel gauge moving 1/16 at cold startup, that's equal to approx 2. 1 gallons of fuel. It's probably a gauge thing.



Could be the sending unit in the tank being shaken awake by the mighty CTD.



"A diesel is junk..... in the winter"?

:--)











I'll take my CTD over ANY gasser, Powerchoke, or Dura-whatever Summer, Fall, Spring, or Winter. Oo.

 

[andrewkoperdak]

I'll be just one more person to add that white smoke is normal. Consider this though, the diesel needs heat to hit its' efficiency. When the engine is cold first thing in the AM it will not burn all the fuel that is shot into the combustion chamber, ie. the white smoke = unburned fuel. The intake heater tries to eliminate this (wait to start) Anyway, the smoke goes away because the combustion process heats the combustion chamber very rapidly. It doesn't take but a 100 or so stokes of the piston and the chamber is warm enough to burn the fuel. Take this thought through to cold weather driving. Until the engine gets to running temperature it will be inefficient. You don't have 100% power when the engine is cold so you inadvertantly push the accelerator closer to the floor to make up for it. So you get less MPG. Secondly, heat is what a diesel needs so cold air, even though it has more oxygen, keeps the cylinder temps down. It is a losing battle unless you are cruising some distance and the heat of combustion can outpace the cooling of the charge of cold air.

I would recommend plugging your truck in when it is cold.

I generally get 19-21 mpg but when old man frost came and the temps stayed down, I went to 17. 4 for the last two tanks.

Originally posted by TBarrett

I have an 01 with just under 8000 miles. In the morning when I start, when its a cold one, I get alot of white with alittle gray smoke in it until my truck is warming up, then it all goes away. I have been watching the fuel gauge and the the last few times its moved over 1/16 less each cold start time. Is this a normal thing. The dealer said the smoke is OK. My mileage went from 19-20 to 16 this winter like everyones I have talked too. Are these diesels going to go thru the fuel like that at start up? I know the diesel is junk, if not for a better word, in winter. I know if I ask here I'll get the right info. Thanks, Terril.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Ya know why...

When the grid heater is cycled, which does occur

a few times for a few minutes after you cold start

your 24 valver, there is a large current drain on

the electrical system. At night you will notice

your headlights dim for a couple seconds. During

the day, you will prob also notice the gauges,

which are electric, will dip a bit too while the

grid heater cycles. That may be why you see the

fuel gauge moving. Just an assumption, I don't

have a manual to back all that up but it makes

sense, eh?



-Chris