White smoke-to dealer or not?

[Coolslice]

I have had the reflash for white smoke, but my truck has been puffing at startup every since. It was BAD in the winter, but seemed to get better with warmer weather, until recently.



Keep in mind that I'm not talking a little smoke at start up in the mornings, i'm talking about covering the entire front yard with a cloud. . The engine will run real rough for about 30 seconds as well. After I pull out, the truck runs great and always has, with just normal smoke. My mileage is very good as well. I mentioned it to my tech, but he basically said if I had a real problem i'd know it. Would any of you guys suggest I take it in and push them to fix it, or just subscribe to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" line of thinking. The tech implied that he would have to send the injectors off to be tested, and unless I have driveability issues, then it's just too much trouble to mess with. . Any advice?? Thanks.

 

[johncameron]

My mileage is very good as well.





Well, if it drives like normal I wouldn't mess with it! I've heard of too many "new" reflashes that kill fuel economy. Just my . 02$

 

[txhawg]

I had the same problem. FInally, the dealer took the exhast manifold off to see which cylinders were making smoke. They replaced the injectors in 5 and 6, and all is well now. Runs smoother, and my mileage increased a little (1mpg)

 

[Alan Reagan]

I had the same problem. FInally, the dealer took the exhast manifold off to see which cylinders were making smoke. They replaced the injectors in 5 and 6, and all is well now. Runs smoother, and my mileage increased a little (1mpg)

I agree with TXHAWG. Sounds like an injector is giving you a little bit of a problem (dripping).

 

[LightmanE300]

Coolslice, granted you have an 04. 5, it still seems way excessive. I never have ANY smoke at startup in any temp, and barely get any visible smoke at WOT. I know the 04. 5's smoke a bit more at WOT, however you shouldn't be getting any smoke during normal driving, and certainly not clouding out the yard. It definitely sounds like a leaky injector.

 

[Coolslice]

I was told that somehow the ECM retards the timing at startup for some reason?? I was thinking that if this is true, and I have a TST which further adjust the timing, that could that be the problem. Is it possible to have an injector problem that only makes itself known at startup?? I guess I'm going to have to make my first appointment with the dealer.

 

[towworm]

I had a simular problem and it was an injector, and right after they gave it back to me the engine light came on and this time it was a cam sensor. They changed that a week later and after picking it up last night the engine light is back on and now it's sputtering on excelleration. So, it's back to the dealer today.

 

[RPotter]

I went to Idaho over Memorial day weekend, temps in the high 80's. When I started it each monring, no grid heaters, and a little white smoke for about 30 seconds, and rough start idle. Then it evened out, smoke quit, and ran fine. As soon as I got back home, it starts smooth as silk, and no smoke at all. hmmmmmmmm... ... you tell me.



When I stomp it on a freeway ramp however, I will leave a fair puff or two of black smoke, but only for about 4 or 5 seconds... then nothing anytime else.



Other than that, don't know what to say. Being this is my first diesel, still learning all the tricks. Averaged 17. 82 overall during the 1280 mile trip, both in town and road. A fair amount of mountain passes and alot of headwind, however.

 

[tschwab]

I went to Idaho over Memorial day weekend, temps in the high 80's. When I started it each monring, no grid heaters, and a little white smoke for about 30 seconds, and rough start idle. Then it evened out, smoke quit, and ran fine. As soon as I got back home, it starts smooth as silk, and no smoke at all. hmmmmmmmm... ... you tell me.



When I stomp it on a freeway ramp however, I will leave a fair puff or two of black smoke, but only for about 4 or 5 seconds... then nothing anytime else.



Other than that, don't know what to say. Being this is my first diesel, still learning all the tricks. Averaged 17. 82 overall during the 1280 mile trip, both in town and road. A fair amount of mountain passes and alot of headwind, however.

I have the exact same symptons, except I am getting smoke at home (western WA) and also get it when I have traveled to eastern WA three times towing since Memorial day.



Anyone have a solution or fix yet from the dealer?

 

[RaymondSmith]

I'm having the same issue at 3000 miles with my 05. Dark gray smoke for about 60 seconds after the first start of the morning. I went to the NAPA store today and had them order a bottle of Power Service Diesel Clean. I will run that for a few tanks and see if it makes any difference. Other than the smoke and a light ticking sound at idle it runs strong. Fuel milage is 18. 5 which is about right for the kind of driving I do.



In another month or so the temperature around here should drop cold enough at night to make the grid heater fire off for the first start. It will be interesting to see if that has an impact on my smoke situation.

 

[tschwab]

I don't think injector cleaner will make any difference with the white smoke, I have used Standyne PF since the first tank and religiously with every tank thereafter.

 

[Coolslice]

Well, I've been running additives for most of the year and it doesn't help. I have come to the conclusion that this must be a common, non-threatening condition in these 600 series engines. I have had the first start smoke, and rough idle condition for months. I have put several thousands of miles on since, and the problem hasn't gotten worse and the truck runs as good as it ever has. . I'm no longer worried about it.

 

[RaymondSmith]

That's good information. It sounds like the smoke on cold start up is just part of the beast.

 

[67guzzler]

I believe I Found a pattern...

CoolSlice,



I have been able to predict when I'd get the rough start / smoke.



I get it in the mornings when I start the truck up IF the night before I started it cold (say to move it from the road to the driveway on a day where I didn't drive it at all) and I DON'T let it warm up. In otherwords, start it cold, run it for less than 5 minutes, shut it down. Next morning start up and it's all whacked -- rough start, smoke, etc... like it's running on 4 cylinders or something. Straightens out after about 2-4 minutes of running.



If I shut down the night before a fully warmed up truck, it's always fine the next AM regardless of the temps in the AM.



I can't prove this but what I think what's happening is the computer is making some assumptions based upon the data from the sensors of the conditions it was last running under. This gets discombobulated if the truck is run for a short period stone cold and then shut down and let to sit and get cold again. It really gets confused... .



This is my hypothesis... Jay