Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) New CTD owner--need help with balck smoke

[Warhorse]

Hi--I recently bought a '97 4x4 automatic CTD (2 weeks ago). Up until today I haven't noticed any black smoke on acceleration. Yesterday I drove 800 miles from Los Angeles to Grand Junction Colorado without any trouble, but today whenever I accelerate from a stop it blows a fair amount of black smoke. What is the cause, and is there anything I can do to fix it? Thanks!

 

[RVPILOT]

smoke

Altitude affects boost which might be off due to a leak which would be OK at lower elevations but would be noticeable at high el such as Grand Junction

 

[Joe G.]

There may be nothing wrong at all. When my '95 was stock it would smoke like crazy at 11,000 ft in the Rockies.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Road Trip!



Matt

 

[TSRAM]

Smoke is a good thing right???

 

[Bseg]

My 97 always blows a lot of smoke on hard acceleration when I tow my boat. I was concerned when I bought the truck new so I called Cummins and they said that it is normal cause when the fuel goes in and the boost doesn't catch up right away you will be too rich for a short period.



Looking back that makes a lot of sense now.



I just put in a #10 plate and the only time I see smoke is when I mash down the pedal at about 60mph. It's not that bad, in fact I'm going to move the plate forward and adjust the star wheel to try to increase the performance.