2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Smoking at high elevation

[DNewell]

Okay, I'm not too sure if this belongs here, but I was curious to find out why my truck smokes more at higher elevations... I live at about 800ft. We traveled to Yellowstone this summer and while we were at Jackson Lake, my truck would smoke like no one's business. Is this due to having less oxygen and same amount of fuel? Can someone answer this for me? Thanks!

 

[RCook]

Exactly - less oxygen. In my experience, it helps to be sure you have a really clean air filter before working hard at high altitudes.

 

[SOOT]

I live in Wyoming, at 6200 feet in town, and notice a huge difference in power and smoke when I go to TX or some place low. Less O2 and the same amount of fuel means more smoke. When I get up around 9000 plus it really smokes like a train.

 

[DNewell]

Aha! Thanks guys! I have a great story for you Soot, since you live in WY. I was on the highway in the park heading to Jackson Lake lodge, and a bunch of people were stopped on the side of the road. There were three vehicles, big ol SUV's and one idiot was on the opposite side with a video camera taping a buck in velvet. Traffic was coming in both directions and these SUV's were about half-way in our lane heading south... Well, at this time, I was sick and tired after a full day drive of people in my way, so as I was beside them, I just dropped the hammer in 3rd and puked out so much smoke, I really couldn't see the vehicles after I went past... One guy was sitting in his rig with the window down, and I know for a fact that he was going to have to wipe the soot down from inside the vehicle... Kinda mean, but fair payback for risking other peoples vacations and lives by impeding traffic.

 

[SOOT]

HE HE HE Oo. Thats awsome!! Um oops I'm sorry I didn't see your window down

 

[mhenon]

Okay, I'm not too sure if this belongs here, but I was curious to find out why my truck smokes more at higher elevations... I live at about 800ft. We traveled to Yellowstone this summer and while we were at Jackson Lake, my truck would smoke like no one's business. Is this due to having less oxygen and same amount of fuel? Can someone answer this for me? Thanks!

We drive in Nevada all the time (high elevation) and the truck never smokes. Your MAP might be bad giving a false boost signal. Check your codes and make sure there's nothing wrong.

Mike

 

[DNewell]

We drive in Nevada all the time (high elevation) and the truck never smokes. Your MAP might be bad giving a false boost signal. Check your codes and make sure there's nothing wrong.

Mike

Definitely. I guess you just need to turn the key on, then off, then on, then off, and then back on and it should do a readout of what is going on, right? What's weird is that at my normal elevation, which in Spokane is around 800-900 feet, I get just normal amount of smoke, which is not too much. I've got a Van Aaken box which does supply more fuel, but shouldn't be doing much. Mind you, when I was in Wyoming, it was only smoking heavily when slightly heavier than 1/2 throttle. not doing it all the time.

 

[mhenon]

Right. . off and on three times, leaving it on the last time. It's probably the box but won't hurt to check.

Mike

 

[PC12Driver]

I've got a Van Aaken box which does supply more fuel, but shouldn't be doing much.

That'll affect things more than you think. Back in my less-modded days, my truck with just an EZ would smoke like a battleship off idle with the trailer in tow at 5,000'+. Like the folks above said, there is simply less oxygen at altitude, and less oxygen = more smoke.



The MAP sensor in a stock truck will report proper pressures to the ECM and will decrease the fueling rate to minimize smoke. With your VA, the MAP signal is basically tossed out the window and you get the same additional fueling that you got at sea level, but without the sea level oxygen. More smoke is inevitable.

 

[PC12Driver]

Right. . off and on three times, leaving it on the last time. It's probably the box but won't hurt to check.

Mike

Not sure if that trick works on a 98. 5...

 

[klaybus]

It won't work on a 98. 5 or 99. Maybe on a 00 or newer.



Clay

 

[DNewell]

Yeah, I'm not worried about the extra smoke. I actually liked it... Was kind of fun. But I was a little worried about the MAP sensor being broken. the truck never really smoked without the box, but with it, just a little bit when I'm really hammering on the throttle, and towing my fiver with my foot too far in it...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

When I pulled a trailer over Sherman Pass in Wyoming (8800 feet) with my '96 I didn't see any smoke from my tailpipe looking in the mirror, even though I was giving it quite a bit of throttle (fairly stiff grade) in order to maintain 60. It was February and fairly cold so that'll help it smoke less. If I let it get off boost it would smoke when spooling the turbo back up though.



DNewell another situation that makes mine smoke is 100+ temps. . . you can imagine it made some smoke in the Tri-Cities last July!



Vaughn

 

[steved]

We drive in Nevada all the time (high elevation) and the truck never smokes. Your MAP might be bad giving a false boost signal. Check your codes and make sure there's nothing wrong.

Mike

Both my 99 and my 04. 5 smoked whenever I got above 6k feet... neither ever had sensor issues. If it was doing it at all elevations, then I would suggest looking further for a problem, but if only at high altitude it is perfectly normal.



steved

 

[NoSeeUm]

The Banks box I had for awhile, never smoked.



Jim

 

[AWray]

Everybody knows Banks products make tons of power and never smoke

 

[NoSeeUm]

LOL



The Banks made the standard 60 Hp for a timing box. The torque came on a bit hard and I did not really like that especially with the engine cold.



In some respects, I have taken a few steps backwards, as far as pure towing pleasure. The Banks box was pretty smart, did not smoke at all and took care of everything. In my current configuration, I have allot more to think about when towing. Its no longer worry free.



But... .



Neither could I pass any vehicle any where like I can now.



Jim

 

[JoeyJ]

for what it's worth my 12V smokes towing (15klbs 5ver) at higher elevations, worse fuel mileage, higher egt. Firmly believe it's all about O2.

 

[mhenon]

for what it's worth my 12V smokes towing (15klbs 5ver) at higher elevations, worse fuel mileage, higher egt. Firmly believe it's all about O2.

You're right. . it is about the oxygen. On the 2nd Gen and later engines I would have thought the electronics would keep it below the smoke threshold.

I've never observed smoke coming from my '02 even with heavy loads and high altitudes.

When I was running with an 0216 code it would occasionally smoke like crazy especially at altitude. Before the code and after a new VP44 however. . nothing (or not enough to observe).

Mike