Archived Runs rough when cold, no power, smokes

[JHawk]

Need help fast PLEASE. Going on a trip.



When cold weather out, the truck runs rough and smokes blue when I press on pedal until it gets up in the RPM to clean out. It also gets quite when at idle when this happens. Almost sounds like a new cummins. Press on pedal to clean out and it goes back to sounding like a diesel again. It has done this for a couple of months on and off. After you get it to clean out, take off and it runs fine. It only does it after sitting over night and colder temps below 40 or so.



I changed lift pump and new filter. No change.



Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[DCaswell]

It would help if we knew what year truck

 

[JHawk]

99 model. TST PM3. BUT, it does it with the TST out of the system. So, I have elimated that.

 

[DCaswell]

Could be the grid heaters are not working. If it smoothes out after warming up then you should not have any problems of a serious nature.

 

[PKozlowski]

It sounds to me like the engine is just cold. Ever notice what a big truck does when it's cold? Same exact thing. My 01 runs like that when I don't plug it it.

 

[JHawk]

Seems like something electrical. You can hold it at 1500 RPM and it will go away like you flip a switch. Drop down to 1200 Rpm it will come back. It doesn't just get somewhat better with engine heat. It seems electrical in curing it self. You have to bring the RPM up to get rid of the excess fuel or to give it more fuel.



I have also had the problem sometimes with it not wanting to have any power after starting. It will not pull any boost. Stop, shut engine off and restart, it cures itself.

 

[KBrasch]

could be the cold weather warm up when it only runs on 3 cly to help bring up the temps. Should also raise idle rpm to 1200. Came across as tsb# 18-019-01 for my 98. 5. Dealer wants $85+ to program mine. Have not had it done yet.