I just bought a scangaugeII today because I'm seeing white smoke on start-up, and the reading that I've done indicates that I may have a ruptured oil cooler. The white smoke goes away after the engine reaches operating temperature. The gauge indicates the following after a 10 mile run @65MPH:

214 EOT
186 ECT

The good news is that my FICM seems to be outputting good voltage to the injectors!.



So - I'm debating whether to try flushing the cooling system to correct the temperature issue (i.e. more than 15* difference), or just start saving for a new oil cooler and possibly an EGR delete.

How else can I diagnose the oil cooler for certain? Check for oil/sludge/brown foam in the coolant jug? What else?

Could the white smoke be from a leaking head gasket rather than the oil cooler?

Any input appreciated!

 

The white smoke would indicate a ruptured EGR cooler which is caused by lack of coolant flow from a plugged oil cooler which is indicated by your 28* temp spread. If you're going to flush your coolant system it's best to do it BEFORE you change the oil cooler.

 

I agree with Tim. In saying that the flush will not fix the problem but give you a good clean coolant system when you replace the oil cooler/egr cooler or delete. Which is a must at this time. I wouldnt drive it until fixed to much of a chance of hydrolock/head gasket damage.

 

Can I continue to drive it?

So, I need to replace both the EGR cooler *and* the oil cooler?

An EGR delete does away with the EGR cooler?

I also need to replace two injectors. This truck is really pissing me off :-/

 

I Would not drive it. Yes you need to an oil cooler and yes the delete will do away with egr cooler. Oem cooler.

 

Whats the two injectors doing. Its possible that they are the problem with the smoke. What does the smoke smell like? Fuel smell? Sweet smell??

 

Contribution and power balance failures. I replaced #3, but still have #2 and #6 to do. Injectors have been messing up in cold temps for several months now. White smoke just started a couple of days ago.

 

Pull your egr valve out and see if it is damp on the valve or in the intake? Do it after sitting over night and nose down hill. Should tell you if your egr cooler has blown.

 

Thanks - I really appreciate all of your input (and npcc, too). I guess the EGR cooler doesn't really matter...since my temps are so far apart, a flush is needed at a minimum, and if that doesn't correct the plugged oil cooler, will replace it and delete the EGR. Sound about right?

 

Sounds like a plan.

 

Stiction can cause white smoke. Also the Post-Cycle "Buzz" flash is known to cause some smoke on cold start.

Josh

 

Please define "Stiction" seen this word used a few times, but have never found the meaning of it yet.

I will be doing an EGR delete as soon as I change my turbo out. No sniffer test here to worry about. Just one less thing to worry about.

 

Here is a Youtube video...




As you see in that video they used Archoil to help deal with the stiction issue. Which works quite well. The better thing to do is to pull the injectors and polish the spools and re-ring each one.

Josh

 

Oh, I see now. Thank you sir. Fortunately I'm not having that issue at the moment.

 

More like unfortunately, fixing stiction is easy and cheap. Replacing injectors or FICM is not cheap.

Josh