White smoke, not starting
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Joined: Nov 2003
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White smoke, not starting
I've got a 97 F350 and my truck has become hard to start. I didn't drive it for about a month after Christmas and it was hard to start the first time. I didn't think too much of it since it sat so long. But now every time I try to start it it spews and ton of white diesel smelling smoke and has to crank for a long time before it starts to sputter before it finally starts firing cylinder by cylinder.
When I start the truck the dash lights dim as if the glow plugs are on and after a couple minutes the dash goes bright again as if the glow plugs have turned off. Is this a sure sign my glow plugs are working properly?
I can smell diesel in my garage from the hood area of the truck. Is this unusual?
What should I be looking for?
TIA,
BWSwede
When I start the truck the dash lights dim as if the glow plugs are on and after a couple minutes the dash goes bright again as if the glow plugs have turned off. Is this a sure sign my glow plugs are working properly?
I can smell diesel in my garage from the hood area of the truck. Is this unusual?
What should I be looking for?
TIA,
BWSwede
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
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From: Celaya, Gto. MX
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
Likes: 7
From: Celaya, Gto. MX
Yes, its under valve cover and connects to the valve cover gasket, this is it:
Under Valve Cover Harness 94.5-97
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
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From: AZ
The dimming of the dash lights is normal but it also tells me that at least some of the glow plugs are working. The white smoke is probably from the cylinders that the glow plugs are not working on.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Thanks Oldbird.
I cranked yesterday nearly until the batteries would hardly crank. I stopped and put a 10 amp charge on them for about 2 hours. I tried starting it again the the starter spun pretty quick and started the truck on the second try. It seemed strange that a low charge like that for only two hours would resurrect both batteries that quickly.
I checked my records and I have 84 month batteries and I am on the 70th month. I am wondering if my issues are tied back to a slower than usual crank or weak batteries powering the glow plugs.
I am going to put a maintainer on the batteries today and see what that does for me.
Thanks for all the input guys.
BWSwede
I cranked yesterday nearly until the batteries would hardly crank. I stopped and put a 10 amp charge on them for about 2 hours. I tried starting it again the the starter spun pretty quick and started the truck on the second try. It seemed strange that a low charge like that for only two hours would resurrect both batteries that quickly.
I checked my records and I have 84 month batteries and I am on the 70th month. I am wondering if my issues are tied back to a slower than usual crank or weak batteries powering the glow plugs.
I am going to put a maintainer on the batteries today and see what that does for me.
Thanks for all the input guys.
BWSwede
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FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
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From: Celaya, Gto. MX
Thanks Oldbird.
I cranked yesterday nearly until the batteries would hardly crank. I stopped and put a 10 amp charge on them for about 2 hours. I tried starting it again the the starter spun pretty quick and started the truck on the second try. It seemed strange that a low charge like that for only two hours would resurrect both batteries that quickly.
I checked my records and I have 84 month batteries and I am on the 70th month. I am wondering if my issues are tied back to a slower than usual crank or weak batteries powering the glow plugs.
I am going to put a maintainer on the batteries today and see what that does for me.
Thanks for all the input guys.
BWSwede
I cranked yesterday nearly until the batteries would hardly crank. I stopped and put a 10 amp charge on them for about 2 hours. I tried starting it again the the starter spun pretty quick and started the truck on the second try. It seemed strange that a low charge like that for only two hours would resurrect both batteries that quickly.
I checked my records and I have 84 month batteries and I am on the 70th month. I am wondering if my issues are tied back to a slower than usual crank or weak batteries powering the glow plugs.
I am going to put a maintainer on the batteries today and see what that does for me.
Thanks for all the input guys.
BWSwede
Yes, this beasts need a lot of juice to start. Id check the starter too.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Aransas Pass, Tx
We have one word terms that cover a lot of things too but they magically turn into asterisks on this site for some reason...
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
Likes: 7
From: Celaya, Gto. MX
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
Likes: 7
From: Celaya, Gto. MX