Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) smoke at startup

[dustoff]

this has been an on-going problem for awhile and its seems to be getting worse. it is most apparent on first start up in the morning, worse when colder outside air. it has always had a little blue smoke but now if i just let it idle when cold and run the rpm's up to about 1500, it then looks like a mosquito sprayer. after i start down the road it seems fine. start up with a warm engine and there is no sign of smoke. i have checked all of the air leak possibilities. it has new return line and fuel filter. over a period of time the antifreeze level drops but i think there is a small leak at the transmission cooler under the manifold that might account for that. i did run out of fuel about four months ago going down the road, hence thought i may have air in the system. i did the manual bleed but have not bled the high pressure lines. my other thought was that it could be the pump timing, or maybe the valves out of adjustment. maybe a bad injector or a o-ring leak it the turbo line, but if i rev it up it has a rough feel to it , so was leaning towards air in the sys or pump timing. any commments or suggestions would be appreciated. i am not sure about trying to set the timing myself so if everyone feels that is the problem then i will just take it to the stealer or cummins for that... it is a 94, 4x4, auto with only 94,000 on the clock... i have replaced the overflow valve and it has a tst #6 installed. oh yeah, i checked the air charge sys for any leaks too... could not find any... boost seems fine and the egt's are in normal range... thats about it... thanks for any suggestions.

 

[illflem]

Are you waiting for the wait to start light to go out and is it pulling your voltmeter down when it's on?



If the grid heaters are working I'm leaning more towards a sticking injector that is slowly bleeding fuel into the cylinder while the engine is off then firing it all off on start up. Try a healthily dose of fuel treatment that says it will clean injectors. Marvel Mystery Oil would work good. If that doesn't fix you up pull the injectors and have them checked, many places will do it for free.

 

[CMNS PWR]

Looks like from what you describe, you still have your catalytic convertor. If you do, remove it. Until the cat warms up, the exhaust smoke will be blue/white and stings the eyes. When I had mine in, I had the exact symptoms. I no longer have that problem

 

[dustoff]

thanks bill and CP... bill it is not cold enough yet for the grid heaters to come on... about 50 degrees... CP the cat is gone, has been for awhile... after it warms up there is no sign of smoke but first thing in the morning and its like a fogger... at least maybe it kills some of those pesky skeeters... thanks guys... i guess i need to find a good shop to check the timing and the injectors.....

 

[Cooker]

What injectors are you running.



After adding injectors and delivery valves, my smoke upon cold start up has significantly increased. I just attributed it as normal because of the additinoal fuel dumping in.

 

[gitchesum]

It's cold enough for the grid heaters at 50 degrees. They come on at 59 degrees. Unless of course your talking Celcius.



My 94 always smoked white on the colder mornings. It was fine after it warmed up.

 

[Blakers]

Mine does it all the time when cold. If I start off down the road when real cold, she stumble and miss and smoke white smoke. I think it's just normal from dumping fuel into an engine the does not have enough temperature in the cylinders yet to burn it completely. Once the boost comes up a bit it smooths right out.



My suggestion to avoid the white smoke is to let it idle a few minutes longer before driving down the road.



Blake

 

[**ICEMAN**]

my 94 is doing the same thing since the weather cooled off a little. i thought i had it fixed last year with the overflow valve but i guess not. the engine runs real rough up to 1800 rpm and leaves big time white/blueish clouds behind till its warmed up a little and then no more problems. my grid heater is working and i let it idle for a while before taking off. it wont smoke or stumble the rest of the day at start ups. seems like only when it sets for extended periods(overnite ). i sometimes smell fuel after i shut the engine down but cant find a leak anywhere.

any suggestions?

 

[Cooker]

If the truck runs rough when getting up in the RPM's when it's cold and there is a large amount of white smoke the timing could be off.

 

[kcv67]

I have the same smoky cold start up. I also know my fuel pre heater is not working. Could that be part of the problem for cold smoky starts

 

[rjones]

IF ITS BLUE SMOKE JUST IN THE MORNINGS ON FIRST FIRE UP IT MAY BE THE VALVE SEALS, OIL WILL SEEP DOWN THE GUIDES JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE BLUE SMOKE THEN AFTER THE SEALS WARM AND SOFTEN BACK UP ITS OK,MORE SO WHEN YOU SAID ITS GETTING WORSE,I RAN INTO THIS PROBLEM IN GAS ENGINES A COUPLE OF TIMES,IN MY OWN VEHICLES... . RICK

 

[Blakers]

When I first got my truck, I was all worried about it doing this. I took it to Diesel Injection of Pittsburgh (they had done the performance work on it before I got it) and they said this was normal for these engines, especially with bigger injectors. They checked the timing, set the valves, replaced the overflow valve and everything else needed. She still smokes when first started when it's real cold. It's fine about a 1/4 mile down the road or after letting it idle a few minutes.



Blake

 

[CumminsPower98]

Same song 5th verse for me. Mine will smoke with temps below 70 most of the time on the first start up of the day. My grid heaters are working (volt meter drop, headlight dim, engine loads). I have stock injectors and DV's so that's not it unless I have a leaking injector except it runs REAL smooth. My cousin's '97 does not do this unless it's real cold so I feel like there is something not quite right. I have a new lift pump and overflow valve and no visible fuel leaks and my timing is set at 16º. I was hoping the timing would help this but it didn't. It's not a big deal as it goes away within a quarter mile but I just like a clean startup especially when brand X people are watching. I just wonder why some trucks do this so much more then others. Any more ideas out there? I don't cycle the grid heaters in temps over 40º or so but even if I do it makes no difference.



Mark

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by CASEY VELTKAMP

I have the same smoky cold start up. I also know my fuel pre heater is not working. Could that be part of the problem for cold smoky starts

Hi Casey, doubt if the heater is your problem. It's mainly there to prevent partually gelled fuel from plugging your filters. If you're running winter fuel or additive you probably don't even need it. None of my tractors have fuel heaters and they do just fine in the cold.

 

[JJW_ND]

Backoff No Load screw on AFC

Wonder if backing off the no load screw on the back of the AFC a turn would help. Many of us adjust it when doing a AFC spring change. My 96 does not smoke but it does smell alittle worse since turning mine a turn.



jjw

ND

 

[dustoff]

thanks guys for all the replies... the grid heaters do work(came on this morning) but still smokes quite a bit... does not use any oil so not sure what the situation is... i wonder if the plate and starwheel setting has anything to do with it... just a thought... i am doing as bill suggested and running a good injector cleaner and maybe it will help... time will tell... . thanks again to all... .