Hard start and white smoke!

[bish777]

I started the truck up this morning engine was idling really bad and white smoke was coming out the exhaust, a lot of white smoke. Went away on the third start up. Just off and on 3 times. It did not give me any codes. I bought some diesel service cetane booster/injector cleaner. Has not repeated the problem. Truck seems to run better with the Diesel Service in the tank, no pinging either.

Just a one time thing I wonder?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Weird. No ideas but that sounds like you got a plug of air clear into the fuel rail. White smoke can be caused by air in there which doesn't allow the fuel to atomize properly into the cylinder. When I helped change injectors on an '03 it smoked white pretty bad for about a minute because of the air that got trapped in there during the process.



Keep an eye on it

 

[Old Man]

TSB 18-007-04 (Maybe)

 

[Apence]

Bish mine is doing the same thing its been to the dealer 3 times for just this problem and 3 other times for other engine related problems, but the they have replaced injector #6 and 7 and that did nothing and then they replaced a check valve on fuel rail and it helped for about 3 days and then went right back to heavy white smoke and rough idle. I have been in the process of getting in touch with a regional rep but the dodge NON customer service is no help and the dealers are not even as helpfull as their no help. anyhow i will let you know if i find out the problem. Oh do you also have no low end power and horrible fuel mileage? Adam

 

[mberry]

Originally posted by Apence

... but the they have replaced injector #6 and 7 and that did nothing and then...

Got any pictures of that #7 injector!!??Oo. Oo.



Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[bish777]

My truck just did this one time so far. I drove it about 100 miles sence it happened and has good power and MPG seems to be the same. I might take it in next week and get TSB 18-007-04 done to it. Did you try any injector cleaner?

 

[Big MAK]

Apence; if it's been to the dealer several times and they haven't figured it out I'd be looking for permission to take it to a Cummins shop where they have truly qualified technicians.



Around here if the dealer can't get it right and they've had several fair shots at it they'll usually agree to let Cummins fix it and manage the chargeback.

 

[AFacey]

Guys - I have the exact symptoms. This is what I was told- seems to make sense.



When the temperature is around 50 degrees, the grid heaters do not come on. This results in the rough idle and white smoke. If it is a little colder the grid heaters come on - no smoke. Also if it is warmer out no smoke.



IMHO they should change the temp when the grid heaters come on.

 

[Apence]

Sorry i ment injector # 5 and 6 and its had the reflash twice now and AFacey yeah that does make sense but mine does it at 90 degrees even. Big Mak i will certainly look into the cummins shop working on it. thanks for the replys.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by AFacey

Guys - I have the exact symptoms. This is what I was told- seems to make sense.



When the temperature is around 50 degrees, the grid heaters do not come on. This results in the rough idle and white smoke. If it is a little colder the grid heaters come on - no smoke. Also if it is warmer out no smoke.



IMHO they should change the temp when the grid heaters come on.

Grid heaters are supposed to come on at 66F at the IAT (inlet air temperature) sensor. I've had an overhead indication of 60 and the heaters don't always come on... it depends on what conditions are like under the hood. But they are supposed to come on below 66F. If they're not coming on, something is wrong.

 

[bish777]

My truck had the problem starting when it was 92 outside. Was a cold start, first one of the day.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The grid heaters are a good thought but I don't think they have anything to do with it. I've had my grids disconnected since the first of March and have started many times with temps below 40. Starts right up, doesn't miss, smooth as a kitten, only a little blue smoke.



The biggest test recently was in the mountains while camping. Sunday AM woke up to 4" of snow and temp at 30F, at about 5500ft elevation. Started right up but it did stumble a little for about 10 seconds. And it smoked a fair amount.



Vaughn