Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need some advice on blue smoke

[CRegal]

Since it has gotten colder out, like much colder all of a sudden, I notice blue smoke when I start up the truck & it idles for a while. When I drive the truck it clears up & is non-existant. About a year ago to the day, the same thing happened. Except it never cleared up after driving it. It turned out to be the head gasket. I had it replaced & the head o ringed at the same time.



Now I went & checked for all the tell-tell signs, like coolant on the oil fill cap & in the radiator. None to be found. I did just change my oil before it got real cold & i am running 5 w 40 not 15 w cause I figure for the cold weather that would suit best. I did check my turbo intake from the air filter & it does get a lil residue on the fins, doesnt seem to be oil. I still need to check the intake horn to see if the oil if coming from the turbo. It is still the stock hx35.



I have also noticed that the truck is bucking a lil bit in with the go pedel slightly pushed down while the comp is on. With the comp on & I flog the go pedel it straightens rite out, its just when I get rite on it. With the comp off I dont notice any bucking. My FP gause says everything from the lift pump is fine averaging around 12psi, down 1psi from the norm. I do notice a diesel smell after I shut off the truck, however I cant find a leak at all.



Any ideas would be much appreciated.



Thanks



Cole

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Mine's allways had a puff o blue when its 35* or colder out. Ya figure the compression ratio we run VS cold valve guides and such before heat expands anything a lil oil will get by. How is your pump wire taped? If using a pump cover dbl check the connections as the pin may have backed out a little. Mine did the same thing a year ago and I found my stud for the piercing of the wire had backed off 1/2 a turn (At least thats what I Gave it and it cleaned up perfectly) The cold weather seems to exagerate connections as wheaties is having the same issue.

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by CRegal

I do notice a diesel smell after I shut off the truck, however I cant find a leak at all.

If you have a Westach electric fuel pressure gauge, check for diesel dripping around the electrical terminals on the sending unit! :{ :{



Rusty

 

[CRegal]

Tim,

Yeah I though about the pump wire, I used one of dem der clamps that pierces the wire, kind of like a clamshell, dont know the technical name for it. Tim so do you get just a puff? Mine is a steady stream till it warms up.



Rusty, I have checked leaking around the sending unit, but it seems dry as a bone.



Thanks!

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

AHA A Scotchlock is what they are called and yes they do make for some crappy connections at times. Hmmm Steady stream eh? And how is the turbo's condition? It isn't drawing oil thru the inlet side is it? Look at the blades on the intake side of the turbo. When the bushings wear in the center section oil can be drawn past them into the intake charge. Careful as if this is left unchecked she COULD run away on ya if bad enough. Do you have a K&N type filter? That can also leave an oily residue on the turbo and hide what is actualy happening.

 

[Snow man]

My truck has been doing the same thing for about 3 months now. I think my valve guides are gone. I have 87000 miles,on it,and these 24Vs do not have good guides at all. I know it isnt my turbo because i have had 3 different turbos on and it never changed a bit. I may have a blown head gasket too,its no that old,but you never know. Im going to run it this winter,and put a new ported head on in the spring,that should take care of it.

 

[Lsfarm]

Blue Smoke

Here's my take on 'blue' smoke in cooler weather:



The cylinder head, and cylinder walls and piston are COLD, the air drawn in is heated by the intake grid heater, and this warm air is also heated by compression. BUT the cylinder walls, piston and head are COLD. So when the fuel is injected into this warm air there is a certain amount of combustion that is incomplete near the cold surfaces and this shows up in the exhaust has a white/gray smoke that smells like unburnt diesel fuel. It is unburnt fuel. As soon as the engine warms up the combustion is complete, and the truck stops smoking. Our grid heaters cycle to keep the intake air warm to reduce this condition.



I know that when I start my truck, or any of my farm tractors without prewarming the block with the electric block heater, the engine smokes blue/gray/white intill the block and coolant have warmed up.



If the engine stops emitting blue smoke after it is warm, and there not any increase in oil consumption, then I certainly wouldn't worry about it.



Try this: plug in the block heater, and get the block and coolant nice and warm, I'll bet that the blue smoke is either greatly reduced or gone.



Just my take on things,



Greg L The Noise Nazi

 

[Snow man]

well mine is oil,its usign a good amount of oil,most fo it is being blown out the breather tube,and the rest is burnt.

 

[Lsfarm]

Not good

John, that doesn't sound too good!! Maybe you have a stuck ring or scored cylinder!! OUCH!!



Of course it could be the head gasket letting compression past into an oil gallery. I think Merrick's truck did this, he had massive blow by and oil consumption.



Take care, Greg L The Noise Nazi

 

[Snow man]

LOl at Greg,well it runs fine,once warm,and leaks no oil,other than out the breather,LOL. I dotn care as long as it makes it thru the winter,ill do the head i nthe spring. I just drove it to Fla and back,it used a little over a quart ibn 2300 miles,the oil is specked on the tailgate

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

John I was gonna mention you but figured ... . Naaaah. How was the trip?

 

[Snow man]

Good Tim,it went real smooth. I wish i was still there its cold here. . ,Now in South Carolina off rt 77, somewhere there is a brand new Ferrari Mondello(sp) owner that is real mad that he couldnt pull my truck from 70-115 . The look on his face was priceless.