Owned this truck about 8-months so still learning its quirks. Been towing the camper (~8000lb) around this summer a lot and noticed I'm getting quite a bit of black smoke out the tailpipe when I takeoff from a dead stop. We aren't talking a big cloud but definitely more than a puff and it lasts for a few seconds. Once the turbo spools it goes away and truck runs fine otherwise. Gets a lot worse at higher elevations (5000ft+) Down at sea level it barely smokes.

On a flat road If I ease into the accelerator and takeoff gently it doesn't smoke at all. Add an incline and even a gentle takeoff will make smoke. I can also make it smoke unloaded if I start off semi-hard on an incline at elevation. Down in the flatlands I have to really give it a lot of accelerator and even then it barely makes any.

If I was talking about a 7.3 or a 5.9 Cummins this would probably be considered normal, but everything I've read about the 6.0 it should never smoke so there is likely an issue. My thought is turbo vanes need to be cleaned and unison ring inspected/replaced if necessary. Truck makes 26-28psi boost at full boogie and seems to spool the turbo pretty quickly from a dead stop. A bit of turbo lag, but not much. No codes. As far as I know the truck is 100% stock and does not have a tuner loaded (purchased truck used from a dealer). 110k miles.

I did just replace the EBP sensor as it was reading too high at elevation and giving a P0470 code (EBP sensor out of range at KOEO) but I had noticed the smoking before replacing the sensor. I don't think the computer learns anything from the sensors so I don't think a ECM reset be required with the new EBP sensor?

Thanks!

 

That doesn't sound out of the ordinary, especially at high elevation.

Cleaning the turbo never hurts, especially if you don't know the history.

 

Kinda figured that it might be normal. Not a great time to pull the turbo with it being 100+ every day here this summer. Sounds like a good fall project. Need to check the STC fitting too...

 

I can tell you running at elevation with a load ours will put out a little, like coming out of a turn on a climb, just for a second and just a bit of smoke (not rolling coal). Can't say that I've watched for it from a standing stop at all, but I can tell you my TorkLift camper tie down extension and the lower rear of bed right behind the exhaust both collect soot - so it's happening more than I'm watching. Happened to follow my wife pulling the horse trailer while I drove the motor home and I'd say from about 6k ft above sea level is where I started seeing it fairly regularly. You're probably just fine...
Scott