White smoke/warm weather/cold start

[tschwab]

I have had the flash - TSB 18-037-04, have noticed very little white smoke at cold (1st) start-up when the weather has been... umm below about 60 degrees. Just returned from vacation where the weather has been very warm at my 1st start, maybe 70+ degrees.



Observations - When I'm in warm weather, I get a ton of white smoke at my first start for maybe 10-20 seconds and trucks seems to idle a little rough during that time. *I have also noticed that the "wait to start" indicator lights for a second or two and then goes off, which tells me the grid heaters are not coming on during the 1st start in the warm weather, which could explain the white smoke and rough idle on 1st start in warm weather.



Anyone else notice this and have any comments/suggestions? Should I be concerned and take it back to the dealer? Truck runs great other than this little irriation.

 

[Coolslice]

Mine does the same thing, even if it's 95 degrees. I asked my tech and he basically said if I had a problem, I would know it and as long as it doesn't run rough and smoke once warmed up, then I should be fine. He told me to check my oil and make sure it didn't have any fuel in it. I'm still not real happy about it considering that MOST peoples trucks don't seem to do it. If you find out anything, please post the results or PM me.

 

[tschwab]

TTT



Anyone else been experiencing this? Exspecially now that we are into warmer weather?

 

[rbattelle]

I have also noticed that the "wait to start" indicator lights for a second or two and then goes off, which tells me the grid heaters are not coming on during the 1st start in the warm weather, which could explain the white smoke and rough idle on 1st start in warm weather.

This is perfectly normal. The wait to start light illuminates as a bulb test (it shuts off after 2 seconds, along with the lift pump).



Anyway, I don't really think your smoke issue is normal. Have you tried a search on it in the 3rd gen forums? There have been several people with the same problem.



-Ryan

 

[tschwab]

Ryan,



I monitor 3G very frequently and have not seen much in regards to the white smoke other than alot of talk about this regading the TSB 18-037-04. COuld you please expand on your comments, I know this does not really affect 2003-2004, mainly the 600/610's, but why? What is causing the white smoke? EPA poluttion garbage? Truck runs strong with plenty of power.

 

[rbattelle]

Here's the best I could come up with:



White smoke & rough idle



White smoke



Blue smoke



Smokey Starts



Warm weather smoky starts



White smoke fix on hold



White smoke consensus



White smoke fixed?



White smoke?



White smoke with rough idle



TSB



White smoke info in user's manual



TSB done, still white smoke



TSB again



What does the TSB do?



TSB regrets



Did the TSB, still smokey



White smoke fix



White smoke



These results came from a search on "+white +smoke" in the 3rd gen engine & transmission forums. There were 161 total results, but I just picked the ones that looked particularly relevant to your problem.



I'm afraid I can't be of much more assistance, as I'm not clear what exactly produces white smoke.



-Ryan

 

[tschwab]

Thanks Ryan, looks like I have a lot of reading to do.

 

[DieselMinded]

White smoke usually occurs when there is not enough temperature to burn the fuel. The unburned fuel particles are then exhausted usually by a rich fuel smell. In cold weather it is not uncommon to get white smoke until engine temperature builds up. One cause of white smoke on engine start up could be faulty glow plugs or glow plug system. Low engine cranking speed can also create an excessive amount of white smoke.



If the problem persists after the engine is up to operating temperature several other things should be checked. A faulty injector can cause white smoke. Timing is often a factor when white smoke is excessive. Low engine compression can cause the problem and the injection pump can also have problems that result in white smoke. Air in the fuel system can also result in white smoke.





From ... DIS



DM