White Exhaust Smoke?

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Recently, I've been noticing that my '96 TD is putting out a moderate amount of white colored smoke in the mornings when I start it. It seams to be more pronounced on mornings that the temp is 50 deg or lower. It did not do this until the truck turned about 53,000. I change the fuel filter every 10 to 12K and change the air filter on a fairly regular basis. The truck also puts out grey smoke when I get on the trottle (even when engine is warm) The grey smoke wasn't there before either. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Des

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1996 Dodge 2500, 5. 9L I-6, SLT Laramie, Auto, 4 WD

 

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I forgot to mention that I haven't noticed any loss of power or change in fuel consumption. The engine still doesn't require any oil addtion between changes.

Des

 

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Des

Check to see if your intake manifold heaters are working. Your volt meter should vary with the heaters cycling off and on. You should her the relays clicking as the cycle. Sounds like "cold start smoke".

Bill

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97 3500CC,Auto,4. 10LSD,All Options incl Leather,Pyro,Boost,Trans. Temp Gauges, PacBrake, 3 pos TC Lockup Switch, RPM 40Gal. Aux. Fuel Tank, Reese 20K Hitch, Highway Products Tool Box, 80% Towing 12,100lb. HitchhikerII 5'er. 2000 3500QC 6 Speed,4. 10LSD,SLT+ on Order since 9-23-99,"D" Order Status, St. Louis

 

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Thanks for the input Bill. I checked the volt meter this morning and it seems that the heaters are working. I also saw porky's post with a similar "problem. " The temperature was about 25 this morning when I started the truck. No white smoke this morning. I guess the outside temperature wasn't low enough before to kick the heaters in.


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1996 Dodge 2500, 5. 9L I-6, SLT Laramie, Auto, 4 WD

 

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It was my understanding that a bit of white smoke in a cold-start situation was normal. I certainly see some when I start my 2k 2500 in the morning (it's about 35-40F here in the mornings). In fact, isn't it mentioned in the owners manual? (I could be mistaken, wouldn't be the first time!) If we're not talking about a lot of smoke here, and it goes away pretty quickly as the engine warms that's the same thing my 4 week old 2500 does. So if it is a problem we're both in trouble!

 

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The heaters are supposed to cycle on at 55 degrees, but on my truck they work up to 65 degrees. I also have some smoke at below freezing startups too. Just a light haze that clears up when the engine warms a little. I do use my PacBrake to speed the warm up period. I let the engine idle about 3-5 minutes, turn off the brake, then drive off slowly.

Bill

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97 3500CC,Auto,4. 10LSD,All Options incl Leather,Pyro,Boost,Trans. Temp Gauges, PacBrake, 3 pos TC Lockup Switch, RPM 40Gal. Aux. Fuel Tank, Reese 20K Hitch, Highway Products Tool Box, 80% Towing 12,100lb. HitchhikerII 5'er. 2000 3500QC 6 Speed,4. 10LSD,SLT+ on Order since 9-23-99,"D" Order Status, St. Louis

 

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FYI; White smoke can and is also caused by retarded pump timing in some cases.
Every 1 degree of injection timing can relate to 50 psi of combustion pressure and 50 degrees of combution heat in the cylinder.
And the heat is what the engine relies on for complete combustion.
I set my injection timing to 14. 5 degrees before TDC and I do not get any white smoke in the morning at all.
Over time there is a certain amount of wear that occurs in the pumps that causes cylinder to cylinder timing and fuel variations.
This can only be corrected on a test stand.
If you were to pull your pump and put it on a test stand and have it balanced, you would not believe how smooth your engine will run and sound, also the power and fuel economy will improve as well as eliminate white smoke.
Yes; I agree that for stock trucks a little white smoke is normal because non are fine tuned the way they should be.

Ted Jannetty

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Ted Jannetty, Owner President Jannetty Racing Enterprises Inc.
97 3500 4x4 club cab 5spd. JRE stage 3 power kit, JRE 4" exhaust
JRE 1/2 inch fuel system, Cummins 300 hp injectors, Prime loc,
Cummins chrome kit, US Gear 20% over drive, 3. 54 axle, 2 gauge
mount with 50 lb. boost gauge, BD exhaust brake.

 

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Ted, with cold mornings setting in mine doesn't smoke at all either, plugging in or not. And about timing, if I don't plug in, the combustion is really sharp and noisy to the point of sounding painful, like there is too much advancement in the timing. I hope it isn't hard on internal components or causing increased wear. I assume there is no way timing on an ISB can be adjusted. It would be nice to take 1/2 degree off and fine-tune it! There is probably a lot of variation in timing on the ISBs to an extent similar to the 12-valves.

In the morning, or after sitting outdoors all day unplugged in chilly weather, I take off within 5 seconds of firing up. I take it easy the first minute but then I start throttling it away from lights & stop signs (say 20-40% of pedal travel) to help get warmed up. It is also quieter and happier sounding with more throttle. Hopefully this isn't a harmful habit in the long run. I hope to add an exhaust brake in the near future, especially for the upcoming snowboarding trips!!

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Vaughn MacKenzie

1998 3/4T QC 4x4 Longbed, 24-valve 5-spd, White over Driftwood, Leather & Loaded, foglights, airdam, DeeZee Running Boards. 50,245 miles (11/02/99)

Member of KISS aspiring to BOM