Jimmy -
As I understand diesels, when you shift a manual you typically have to lift completely off the throttle, which means the turbo is going to spool down momentarily, and that could be causing the smoke - because when you get back on the throttle after shifting the turbo has to spool back up so the boost will match the fuel being supplied and usually when the boost gets back up the smoke clears out - just like on a big rig for the same reason. I think it's about the same reason the rigs smoke just off idle - low boost and big fuel, but clears out when spooled.
But with an automatic you never lift off the throttle when the transmission shifts so the smoke doesn't (normally) belch when it shifts - it actually will a bit because of the added load, but that's different than lifting off the throttle. But if you lift for a slow corner you'll get a bunch of smoke as the turbo spoole back up to match the fuel. That alone is actually one of the major reasons I'm going with an auto for the OXX - I want to keep the coals rollin' full time when the transmission is shifting.
As I understand diesel exhaust characteristics, the hot side of the turbo is actually spooled primarily by heat expanding through the exhaust collar, not necessarily exhaust flow. A bigger exhaust pipe allows the exhaust/heat to escape faster and the faster the turbo can spool. However there is a fine line between a fast spool/high heat application, like a 12-14 cm collar (racing) and a good spool/medium heat application, like a 16-18 cm collar (towing). There's lots of variations on that but basically the smaller the collar the faster the spool rate and the higher the heat builds up, and vice versa. It also means the faster the boost will build. The closer to a zero backpressure you can get the better the engine will breathe. That's completely different from a gasser which needs backpressure for the exhaust to scavenge out of the system. That's why big block and high torque/towing gas rigs often have much smaller exhaust pipes than high horsepower cars - they're relying on backpressure to scavenge exhaust verses high flow rates for horsepower. But a diesel is pressurized and the turbo likes as little backpressure as possible else it won't spool as fast, make more boost sooner, and therefore more power sooner. (It's actually 12:30 am... and I'm writing all this physics crap out... can't believe I'm digging all this crap up... and I hope I'm actually correct about all this - I think so but the beer may be talking... oh well). So when you have your foot burried the turbo spools up hard verses when at part throttle. The burnt fuel makes big heat and that makes big spool rates, and that's why the pyro is such an important gauge - it will always dictate just how far you can bury the throttle, but the perfect ratio of fuel to heat is the beauty and beast of the power verses pyro battle we all strive to beat.
Okay, so what Sam is really trying to say, is I think your rig is doing just what it should be doing - letting people behind you know when you're shifting gears... ...
(I gotta go to sleep... and I get an extra hour too... )
- S
ZZZZZZzzzzzzz... ... ... ... .
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
The truck doesn't make any weird noises,no lose in power,no hard starts or anything to that effect. I got a feeling that its just because its a 5spd and going on and off the gas is what doing it but I still got that little nagging voice in the back of my head that keeps saying to ask yall 
I just need to get on here and read every post in the threads on the top of the board :-laf Thanks in advance yall!
