I have a 93 F250 7.3 diesel that when I first start it in the mornings or after it has sat for a few hours there is A LOT of white smoke that comes from the tail pipe and the truck shakes like it is missing or something. Once I drive it for a few miles it clears up, there is no smoke, and runs well. I just put new injectors in and changed the oil. Any Ideas?

 

Im not familiar with diesel engines at all so anything will be helpful.

 

how long does the wait to start light stay on for?

welcome aboard by the way!

 

It stays on for less than 10 sec.

Thanks

 

sounds like you might have one or two dead glow plugs....take a test light, hook the light up to the pos bat post, then take the connector off each glow plug, touch the test light probe to the tip of each glow plug. if the light glows then the glow plug is good, no light is a bad plug. only get motorcraft glow plugs. motorcraft ZD9's are the part number you are looking for. oriley's and rockauto.com has them for around $10/plug if you need any.

 

I checked the glow plugs and 1 showed to be bad. I will relace it and let you know how it turns out.

Thanks

 

cool. good luck!

 

Chances are you have a factory block heater installed in your truck. Even when it is warm outside (Including if it is 70+ degrees outside) plug it in. Having a warm motor on startup makes all the difference in the world.

It is my understanding that even with a few bad glowplugs, plugging the block heater in can provide a temporary relief, but the block heater doesn't help when your not home.

Looking forward to hearing have it goes for you, as I'm having a similar issue *when I can get the beast started*

 

Another sign of a bad plug is if you hear the relay clicking under the hood after the WTS light has gone off. Also, keep in mind that some white smoke is normal when starting an IDI cold.

 

Once the light goes off there is a clicking under the hood. Bad glow plug?

 

It is normal for the relay to click off and on a few times after the WTS light goes out.
The white smoke is a mist of unburnt fuel, replacing the one bad glowplug from your test earlier should fix it, You may want to just replace them all. Use only Motorcraft glow plugs, others dont last and swell and get stuck in the head.

 

Changed the bad glow plug but the smoking is still pretty bad however maybe a bit better. I understand that a little smoke is normal but I got the fire department called on me the other day because someone thought the truck was on fire due to all the thick smoke around it. Should I change the other spark plugs or look elsewhere?