Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) white smoke

[aharrow]

Just a question about white or blueish smoke at cold start up it has been doing this for a while now but after I drive the truck for a while then let it sit for a couple of hours and start it while it was warm it will puff out a little black smoke just wondering if this is normal thanks, Aaron

 

[RustyJC]

What's the ambient temperature when you get the white smoke - are your intake heater grids working?



White smoke at a cold start is generally a sign of low combustion temperatures and is caused by raw unburned fuel going out the exhaust.



A puff of black smoke at startup is normal (that just means that mine does it ) and is caused by an excessively rich mixture - more fuel is being delivered by the injectors for starting than air is available to burn it completely.



Having said the above, bear in mind that here on the Texas Gulf Coast, low ambient temperatures at startup generally aren't a problem.



Rusty

 

[Hohn]

White smoke is unburned fuel. Not really worth worrying about. Just make sure you don't have a leaky injector (does the engine oil smell like diesel?)



The smoke turned black when the engine is warm because there's enough heat to oxidize the diesel (turn it to soot) even though it's not burning.



Not a big concern unless you get heavy smoke all the time. A stock engine with no power enhancements should rarely, if ever smoke (less true on a 12v).



HOHn

 

[aharrow]

Thanks guys great info and now that you mentioned it the wait to start light has been on but i didn't know that would have anything to do with it but it puts my mind at ease now. Aaron