Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Smoke at idle

[Tardog]

One of our company vehicals is a 95, 3500 CTD, 5 speed. Has about 75k miles on it, runs strong but smokes lots at idle. The truck gets regular services and motor has never been touched. What would cause it to smoke at idle. (very stinky hard on the eyes to work around when it is running) Any tips would be helpfull. Thanks

 

[ndurbin]

by being hard on the eyes do you mean it makes them burn?



if the smoke makes your eyes burn there's unburnt fuel in the smoke. timing probably needs adjusting.



mine also put out alot of smoke at idle when the oil seals on the turbo went out. that smoke was more whitish and there was a ton of it. smoked alot at idle but once the turbo heated up with the higher rpm's it went away.

 

[Tardog]

yup enough to make the eyes burn. Timing has never been checked, would be a good idea.

 

[drrhoades]

ndurbin,

When your turck smoked white did it do it when it was warm and cold out or just cold? Were there any other signs other then the smoke that the seals were going bad in the turbo? Did you have to send the turbo out to get them replaced or did you do it yourself?



Thanks,

Doug

 

[ndurbin]

anything below about 45 mph it'd smoke like a son of a gun regardless of how hot or cold it was. I think at about 45 the turbo got hot enough it completely burnt the oil and ended the smoke. but soon as I slowed back down the smoke was back.



another way to check is to pop the intake hose of the front of the turbo and see if the shaft the wheels spin on has any play. mine moved around quite a bit. you can also spin the shaft by hand to see if it is dragging or rubbing against something.