Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Major blue smoke

[Makensmoke]

Started my truck today when it was light out for once in a long time- 14 degrees out. Truck idled up to 1200rpm as scheduled and the smoke was rolling! You'd a thought the grass was on fire, in a big way. As soon as the truck got a little warmed up it quit. This reminded me of the same smoke last winter, only didn't have high idle turned on = less blue smoke. Why is there all this blue smoke.

Stinks bad too, very rich smelling.

 

[CRegal]

Mine did the same thing, but only after it heated up..... It turned out that I blew a head gasket.



I dont think that is what yours is, but usually blue smoke is a sign of burning oil. Pull you oil fill cap & check to see if there is any coolant that condensated on it. If that looks good, check your radiator for oil. If none to see, then it probally isnt your head gasket, but could be elsewhere that oil comes from, perhaps the turbo?



Cole

 

[Makensmoke]

Oooooooo

Trying to make me worry about big $$ are we? Luckly, i'm a cronic maintenance freak and check fluids quite reguarly. I've never added oil or antifreeze either. Had turbo intake off and noticed some black slime on silencer ring, nothing out of control by anymeans. Also my drip bottle fills very slowly, I going to have to rule out oil and water consumption. Also, the very rich smell isn't oil. I've owned enough oil burners to know that smell, and its not it.



Also... only with COLD engine and COLD outside temp.

 

[Cummins4Life]

Mine does the blue smoke thing on really cold mornings if I dont plug it in, the high idle just adds to the cloud.

 

[Makensmoke]

Thats what i figured, thanks

 

[jwinnie]

Mine never made more than a puff of smoke at startup until I was playing around one day and disconnected the Intake heater relays. I started it up on a cold morning and it was belching blue smoke for a few mins until it warmed.



I would check your intake heater, see if it is cycling.

Hope this helps,



John

 

[Pit Bull]

Check and see if some animal got up in your intake duct or has built a nest in your air filter, since it is so cold where you are they are looking for a warm place. Since the blue smoke problem went away after you warmed up I would rule out the expensive potential problems (like cylinder damage, piston damage, etc. ) Look at the following - Dirty air cleaner or the restricted turbo charger intake duct. Restricted turbo charger drain tube. Obstruction in the exhaust manifold or an air leak in the boost system between the turbocharger out let and the intake manifold.



Let us know what you find.

 

[PKozlowski]

This is actually pretty normal.



Mine smokes on cool / cold mornings all the time.

doesn't use a drop of oil or any other fluid.



I drive by a couple of trucking companies

on my way to work and it looks like

the parking lot is on fire!



Nothing to worry about.



Pete

 

[RKohn]

I was fogging for mosquitoes the other morning too...

It worked great, there's probably not one around for a hundred miles.



Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I agree with Pete - it's normal. Mine smokes like a bandit on the cold mornings - whether it's plugged in or not. It doesn't use any oil either. I believe it's just cold cylinder temps.