Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

White smoke

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 02:09 PM
  #1  
bdonaldson's Avatar
bdonaldson
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
White smoke

I recently purchased a 2000 superduty 7.3. I took the great information on this site and changed the injectors myself saving a pile of money. Thanks guys.
I now am noticing that when I start the truck up it puffs white(ish) smoke until it is warm. The truck also takes allot of cranking to get started. I replaced the starter and both batteries but it is still slow to start. All the glow plugs checked out when I did the injectors. This truck has had a tough life by the look of it.
What does white smoke mean, and what are the common symptoms of hard starting?
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 02:29 PM
  #2  
Kwikkordead's Avatar
Kwikkordead
Fleet Owner
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Welcome to FTE bdonaldson.
Did it smoke before you did the injector job?
If not then something went wrong with that job, whether it be a bruised o-ring from being too pinched to something didn't go right when they rebuilt the injectors, to possibly one of the copper o-rings on the bottom of the injectors didn't get properly crushed and it's leaking. I would remove the valve covers again and make sure that everything is properly torqued down as a start. You may have to pull all the injectors out again to review what went wrong.
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 02:46 PM
  #3  
bdonaldson's Avatar
bdonaldson
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
It smoked like this before and started even harder before the injectors replacement. Does white smoke mean oil is being burnt?
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 08:56 PM
  #4  
wolfe1104's Avatar
wolfe1104
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Bonney Lake, WA
Originally Posted by bdonaldson
I now am noticing that when I start the truck up it puffs white(ish) smoke until it is warm. The truck also takes allot of cranking to get started. I replaced the starter and both batteries but it is still slow to start. All the glow plugs checked out when I did the injectors. This truck has had a tough life by the look of it.
What does white smoke mean, and what are the common symptoms of hard starting?
I have a buddy with the same problem on his 95 PSD. He's been asking me about for a while but I wast to sure. I would really like to know. It would be nice if it were just orings or a simple fix like that.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 08:27 AM
  #5  
Kwikkordead's Avatar
Kwikkordead
Fleet Owner
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Did you verify that all eight glow plugs were good? All it takes is one burned out plug in a set of eight to make a pretty good sized cloud.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 08:51 AM
  #6  
wolfe1104's Avatar
wolfe1104
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Bonney Lake, WA
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
Did you verify that all eight glow plugs were good? All it takes is one burned out plug in a set of eight to make a pretty good sized cloud.
will the cloud continue for a few minutes or is it just on the initial start up?
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 09:12 AM
  #7  
Pocket's Avatar
Pocket
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
The first and easiest thing to check is the glow plug relay. Pick one up at NAPA for $24. White smoke + hard start = glow plug system. The white smoke is unburnt fuel at idle.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 10:00 AM
  #8  
Kwikkordead's Avatar
Kwikkordead
Fleet Owner
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by wolfe1104
will the cloud continue for a few minutes or is it just on the initial start up?
It will continue for a few minutes until the cylinders heat up. The colder the weather is the longer it takes to heat up and clear out. REALLY cold weather and it will never clear out unless you work the engine - if you can get it started without the benefit of the glow plugs heat.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 28, 2006 | 12:29 PM
  #9  
bdonaldson's Avatar
bdonaldson
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks guys, I will check the glow plug system. It also starts very hard when it is cold so a glow plug problem makes sense. I sure hope that is what it is.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rowekmr
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
2
Jan 19, 2013 08:09 PM
Regulator1988
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
24
Jan 8, 2013 05:30 PM
linus72
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
12
Apr 16, 2012 07:40 AM
savage250
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
6
Nov 4, 2010 12:41 AM
qtrmile
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
3
May 19, 2007 08:16 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:45 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE