I have a 1997 F250 with 140K miles and mods listed in my sig.

Son of a gun smokes live a chimney, ESPECIALLY when cold - it literally can engulf itself in a cloud of smoke (I cranked it at work once and left it for few minutes to let it warm up, and the fire department showed up because they thought the building was on fire!!! LOL!)

Once it warms up, it still smokes but a lot less. When I am near it, the smell of the smoke is so strong, it makes my eyes water. And it's not that sweet burnt diesel smell. It smells like I just stuck my head in an empty 55 gallon diesel drum. If it were a gasser, I'd swear up and down it's running "rich."

Any suggestions??

 

Wrong section.
My 99 Powerstroke leaves no noticeable smoke at all. 205k.

 

I'd like to continue this thread, I was going to start one. My 99 smokes. In short, the shop read 2 codes, bad turbo and #5 injector. I fixed the turbo, it was just a broken clip. Replaced the injector. I runs MUCH smooter, and smokes less (mine too was like a smoke bomp went off), now it smokes a lot less. I have noticed at idle it smokes, some, but when I take off after idle, POOF, then it's not really noticeable when driving. But it still stinks, like rich maybe? What is my next step? I will change my oil. (someone sugguested). It's black, the previous owner heavily abused this rig. I also want to mention I only have 138k on this rig.

 

I'm guessing that the injectors are loose and excess fuel is leaking down around the injector nozzles past the copper sealing washer at the base of the injectors.

 

To the OP, You will need to test your glow plug relay, and possibly the glow plugs. I am betting the smoke is a white smoke that is very acrid. That my friend is unburned fuel. You state that once its warmed up the smoke dissapates. With 4 gals of oil, and 9 gals of coolant it takes a 7.3 a good while to get the block warmed. We need you to perform a test. Before you go to bed tonight, go outside and plug your truck in, (block heater cord is under the front bumper, drivers side area.) If tomorrow morning(after being plugged in) the truck cranks without the smoke screen then its a glow plug problem. At 12 years old, as Dan suggested, your injector hold down bolts could be loose, so it may be time to crack the valve covers and retorque them.

 

Well, since I did replace the #5 injector, while cover was off, I checked the other 3 and they seemed fine. The glow plugs were replaced 1000 miles ago. The smoke appears to be BLUE, not WHITE. And it's been very cold here, and I have it plugged in all night everyday. Same result. So........... now what?

 

Compression test.

 

What color is the smoke?

 

As I stated earlier, it's definately blue.
Thanks.

 

With the engine running, open the hood and remove the engine oil filler cap.
Describe here the amount of smoke coming out, and the manner in which it does.
If there is a blowby problem, there might definately be a compression problem.


Just my 2 cents anyways.


To the OP, diesels can not run rich in the way you are thinking... While a gasser allows very little air, to full airflow to adjust throttle, a diesel always gets full air, there is no intake limiting valve.

In a diesel, throttle is adjusted by simply spraying more fuel, so yes they can run "rich", but it would be under heavy acceleration. What you are experiencing may be unburnt fuel, but it would be technically running fairly lean just idling.

In a diesel, the injectors simply spray as much fuel as they want, and because the fuel is instantly ignited by the compressed hot air, the engine needs no carburettor or fuel/air metering. It simply squirts the fuel, and burns it. There is obviously still a limit, as the air in the cylinder can only burn so much fuel, but other than that, its all in the fuel control. PS of course a turbocharger forces extra air into the cylinders, meaning more fuel. This is the point of the turbo...more power.

 

Glow plug system needs maintance, be it a relay or plugs themselfs... Also, how long have the injectors been installed...

We are talking to the orignial poster... you might want to start a new thread so there is no confusion...

 

Well I figured the original poster didn't belong in this forum, so we should continue mine.

 

Its not a big deal, but people are asking the OP questions that you are answering and it gets confusing...

 

Fine, so is it possible to start a new thread and refer to this thread so people can see what has been said?

 

wrong section?? It's a 7.3 PSD.
Good for you and thanks for the help. Now, either come up with a troubleshoot or GTFO. Sheesh...



will check that. Thanks

Good stuff. Truck stays plugged in at night and during the day at work. The colder it gets, the more it smokes at startup and for several minutes after that until it gets good and warm. It is definitely unburnt fuel, of that I never had any doubt. Puffy, white/bluish, acrid, "diesely" smoke...

puffy white/bluish

didn't belong? Say what? It's my thread, fool.