What's the consensus on white smoke at startup?

[BGParks]

I'm trying to gather info on the white smoke at startup thing to decide if I need to take my truck in to the stealership and let them look at it. I've got 15k on it now and it just recently started doing this. When you start it for the first time in a given day if the ambient temp. is below 50 it will smoke and run rough. It only does this for about 30 sec to 1 min and then quits. The colder it is the more the smoke and the rougher it runs (like a v-8 gasser with 3 cylinders misfiring - real rough). Like I said it only does this for 30 sec to 1 min then quits and runs fine the rest of the day. I've never noticed it doing this on restarts, only on the first start of the day. I follow proper startup procedures waiting for the glow plugs and letting it idle for a bit before trying to drive off. I've had the reflash for fuel economy and white smoke done already, and no this problem did not start concurrent with the reflash. Is this normal for a 600 Cummins or does it sound like I'm starting to have injector problems? Any info would be helpful.

On another subject did anyone see that episode of trucks where Stacy did some very minor mods (edge ez - or something like it and some very very minor trans mods to the allison) to a Chevy w/ the duramax and then pulled an 18 wheeler with a flatbed loaded with a Cat dozer. He stated the weight was 103,000 lbs. Talk about impressive. According to him once the mods were done you could tow this rig around without causing any damage at all to the Chevy. I sure wish he'd used a Dodge for that demo. I'd like to have seen how the Dodge would do. At least as well as the Chevy --- or so I'd hope. Anyway, it was an impressive display of just what a diesel pickup is capable of!

TIA for any info on the white smoke thing. Brian

 

[macdaddy]

BG

Running the EPA blend of diesel in cooler ambient temps you will get a poof of white smoke my 05 does it all the time when I am in Wa St which also uses the EPA blend. But the rough idle thing for 30 secs to a min does not sound right you may want to have that checked out. As far as the Glow Plugs the CTD has none, they use an electric heating grid in the intake. Also if possible avoid idling where ever possible except for turbo cool down, When starting on cold mornings I start driving once the oil pressure is up and stabilized and avoid wide open throttle until the engine is at normal operating temperature.

Mac

 

[BGParks]

BG

Running the EPA blend of diesel in cooler ambient temps you will get a poof of white smoke my 05 does it all the time when I am in Wa St which also uses the EPA blend. But the rough idle thing for 30 secs to a min does not sound right you may want to have that checked out. As far as the Glow Plugs the CTD has none, they use an electric heating grid in the intake. Also if possible avoid idling where ever possible except for turbo cool down, When starting on cold mornings I start driving once the oil pressure is up and stabilized and avoid wide open throttle until the engine is at normal operating temperature.

Mac

Mac, thanks for the info. I knew the truck had grid heaters but thought it had glow plugs too. When the little yellow light on the dash goes out I thought that was glow plugs because the grid heaters seem to keep cycling for a while. Interior lights brighten and dim as they cycle on and off for a couple of minutes. Somewhere I read this dimming a brightening was due to the grid heaters. Anyway, that's why I thought the yellow light on the dash was for glow plugs. Oh well, now you know why I'm not a diesel mechanic. Thanks again for the info. Brian

 

[LightmanE300]

BGParks - I'd get that truck in for an injector test. White smoke isn't normal and shouldn't occur - it just happens to be a common problem with 04. 5-05 trucks. It certainly shouldn't run rough for 30 secs to a minute. At 0F my truck starts up a little noisier than normal, but nothing major - and sounds/idles just about as smoothly as when it's warm. If yours is shaking at anything under 50F, you've got problems.



There are no glow plugs - the light going out indicates that the grids are warm enough for start. Yes they will cycle for about a minute on and off, which causes the lights to dim. In winter conditions, I let the grid heaters complete their cycle (about a minute) before driving off.

 

[JVolpe]

I agree you need dealer to run injector tests. Mine did basically the same thing on cold starts after 7500miles, even in 100 degree temps. They replace #6 injector which was leaking and dumping diesel in the cylinder overnight. That is what caused my rough running and white smoke. It did not do this after the engine had warmed up, it needed to sit for at least 4-6 hours before it would show up again.

 

[LHolland]

Cam sensor?

I've had the problem with white smoke at startup at any temp. It has been to the dealer twice for this problem and once for the reflash. They have replaced two injectors and the valve seals on #4. I still have the white smoke, but I don't want to take it back until I've heard of someone with some positive results. The second time it was in they had it for two weeks.

I read one post where an individual had three injectors replaced and then later had the cam sensor replaced and this took care of it. I have'nt been able to find that post. Can anyone help? Maybe the dealers are chasing their tails with the injectors being the problem with white smoke.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

White smoke

I've had the problem with white smoke at startup at any temp. It has been to the dealer twice for this problem and once for the reflash. They have replaced two injectors and the valve seals on #4. I still have the white smoke, but I don't want to take it back until I've heard of someone with some positive results. The second time it was in they had it for two weeks.

I read one post where an individual had three injectors replaced and then later had the cam sensor replaced and this took care of it. I have'nt been able to find that post. Can anyone help? Maybe the dealers are chasing their tails with the injectors being the problem with white smoke.

I don't think it has anything to do with temp. Mine went out last August when I started the white smoke thing. Leave it set over the weekend and if you have noticably more white smoke and it lasts longer before it quits then I'd say you have injector/'s. Actually, think plural. I ended up having 7 replaced. The truck runs totally different. I think mine was screwed up from day one. It's a lengthy affair getting them tested and STAR will only authorize up to 3 replacements at a time and a day or two for each single injector to be tested. Hope you have another car.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

Forgot to tell you to change where you fuel. And get yourself a 3-micron filter.

 

[BBailey]

I just got my 04. 5 back from the dealer. I have been having the smoke both white & blue at cold start-up. It runs really nasty until the RPM's get brought up; then it seems fine. The ECM has been flashed twice (with the same TSB) & there is absolutely no difference in how it acts at cold soak start. My truck also takes about 10-15 miles to come up to operating temperature. I would like to know how to get them to check the injectors (smoke & running rough) and the thermostat/fan clutch ref the extended warm-up time. I have told them but all they want to do is flash the ECM & say it is fixed. Oh yeah the front pinion seal went for no apparent reason & was slinging diff lube all over the underside of the truck too. If anybody knows the magic words for getting the dealer to check the fuel system I sure would appreciate it.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

Getting attention from the dealer

I just got my 04. 5 back from the dealer. I have been having the smoke both white & blue at cold start-up. It runs really nasty until the RPM's get brought up; then it seems fine. The ECM has been flashed twice (with the same TSB) & there is absolutely no difference in how it acts at cold soak start. My truck also takes about 10-15 miles to come up to operating temperature. I would like to know how to get them to check the injectors (smoke & running rough) and the thermostat/fan clutch ref the extended warm-up time. I have told them but all they want to do is flash the ECM & say it is fixed. Oh yeah the front pinion seal went for no apparent reason & was slinging diff lube all over the underside of the truck too. If anybody knows the magic words for getting the dealer to check the fuel system I sure would appreciate it.

Try asking the service manager, in person, so he gets a sense of your committment to getting your truck fixed for the name and tn of the area service rep from DCX. Let him know your situation and expectation for getting it fixed asap.

 

[BBailey]

I am going to have to do something. Tonight on the way home from work the outside temp was 29 and it took a full 13 miles for the truck to hit full (normal) operating temp. That is half the trip home! Have there been a lot of these trucks with this problem? I was able to get the keys to a new one at the dealer that had not been started in over 24 hours & it ran smooth as glass from the first hit. That really made me mad.

 

[PJ]

Acording to the dealer where my truck is serviced and bought, it is something that ALL 325/600-610 CTD owners will have to deal with as THEY ALL DO IT and D/C has NO FIX! I might add that they want my truck next monday to test the injectors, yeah right. It most likely will sit in the same spot for 4 or 5 days and Ill get a call with the famous reply, ""no problem found at this time"". .

Ya just gotta love it! The guy that lives next door has a Power stroke and the guy on the other side has a Duramax. . Geeee, non of their trucks puke white smoke! We also get our fuel at the same locations and the outside temps are the same at all 3 homesites. . I would say it is DC that has created a truck that loves to puke white smoke at start up. It all begain when the truck was made 50 state smog legal. If you ask me, It has to do with all the wonderful emission controls that were placed on the trucks starting in 04. 5 models. The fun part of this is getting next to a cop on the local highway. When he has his window down, the light turns green, you take off and fill his car with the smoke that DC says dosnt exist! Go figure... It just looks really bad to be driving a NEW truck that pukes smoke every day when I drive my pretty new truck! :-laf :-laf

 

[jwilliams3]

A little white smoke out of a diesel on start up is normal.

 

[doldenburg]

seems to me most here are not use to diesels. Its common for them to make white smoke on cold starts. I know i'll get arguments on this but its a fact so put it to rest.

 

[jwilliams3]

Some white smoke is common even when somewhat warm out.

It has more to do with cylinder and engine temps.



But of course, electronic timing, post injection events have alot of stock in this white smoke also.

 

[doldenburg]

Yeah, very common on cold starts but Im talking 75 degrees in the middle of the day after Ive driven my truck 50 miles. Go back out 30 min later and another mile of your SO CALLED NORMAL WHITE SMOKE. .



I highly suggest that you get your facts straight before you start slinging mud stating that I dont know what is and what is not normal on a diesel. One fact is, Ive driven diesels since the late 60's and Im not new to this. The smoke that is coning from my truck is not normal. I assume that you must know everything, and your smoke is ok. . Im so happy you are content with owning a smoking truck. . As for me, I know that it is NOT NORMAL. .

As I told you in your PM to me, MY comment was not aimed at just you. I also been around and owned diesels for 40 years so I do know a little about them. How does my statement considered mud slinging? like I said, You dont like it?TUFF!!

 

[jawmail]

Just for reference, my '04 305/555 has some white smoke on startup, doesn't bother me, runs great.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

White Smoke

White Smoke is not normal. If you have ANY white smoke you have a problem. Mosquitos, Flies and such may not bother you, but they are a problem. White smoke may not bother you, but you still have a problem. Your injector/tors are screwed up. If you choose not to deal with it then it's because you haven't felt or seen the alternative which is a properly operating set of injectors. The difference is the way your truck takes and delivers the power. Totally different. You may not see the white smoke after a minute or in some cases a few minutes but until you experience properly operating injectors you will not have a clue what I am even talking about. All I can do is alert you and the ball is in your own court to deal with it. These things take perseverence. I had 7 injectors replaced over a two month period and I didn't let it drop until it was fixed. Now I have a truck worth the money I paid for it. Good luck.



Specifically I am referring to the 3rd gens, as I have owned the '04 & 04. 5.

 

[Dachenbach]

I would get it checked at the dealer. They can run a flow test at the return and tell if any of the injectors are bleeding off after the engine shuts down. There's been quite a few fuel quality issues causing injector problems especially in the mid/north west area(CO, UT, ID). If the injectors leak down bad enough, it will even cause an intermittent no-start issue.

 

[LMcCary]

A little white smoke and misfire is almost always raw fuel that came from a leaking injector. In some cases the VP pump would emit a puff of white smoke. The P-Pump will white smoke if depressing the accelarator pedal while cranking, esp. if the timing is too slow. It is very rare for the new electronic engine to white smoke. One more thing, identify the white smoke. Is it fuel or coolant? Some times coolant will appear to be white smoke.