Urgent Help Needed!!!
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: East Peoria, IL
Urgent Help Needed!!!
ok so my truck has been blowing white smoke lately and increasingly..today as i was leaving school i noticed a small puddle of oil underneath my truck and i glanced under and saw it on the oil pan and since i had just changed the oil i thought it was the oil drain plug
i went to Oreilly's Auto Parts and got a new drain plug and when i crawled under there, i realized it was not coming from the oil plug. it was all over the oil pan, axle, etc.
i cleaned everything off and looked for the culprit but did not find it until i started my truck. after running for 3-4 minutes,oil began dripping again. i cannot see up in there enough or down into the engine bay enough but it is dripping from above the starter somewhere. it comes right down off of the starter. it is getting worse and im almost certain this was my cause of white smoke and why the white smoke got worse today. Can someone please share their insight on what it might be or places to check, especially hints to getting better access to any of these places. I need my truck fixed ASAP because i cannot get to work without it.
Thanks in advance, and i will be checking in and out between here and the truck every few minutes
Nic
i went to Oreilly's Auto Parts and got a new drain plug and when i crawled under there, i realized it was not coming from the oil plug. it was all over the oil pan, axle, etc.
i cleaned everything off and looked for the culprit but did not find it until i started my truck. after running for 3-4 minutes,oil began dripping again. i cannot see up in there enough or down into the engine bay enough but it is dripping from above the starter somewhere. it comes right down off of the starter. it is getting worse and im almost certain this was my cause of white smoke and why the white smoke got worse today. Can someone please share their insight on what it might be or places to check, especially hints to getting better access to any of these places. I need my truck fixed ASAP because i cannot get to work without it.
Thanks in advance, and i will be checking in and out between here and the truck every few minutes
Nic
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: AZ
First I'd make sure that it is not fuel mixed with oil...this is a common problem and is often mistaken for an oil leak. So here is how I would start in hunting down the source. I'd get a big bottle of spray cleaner (that green stuff) and spray the entire top of the engine being specially attentive to the area around the fuel filter and the entire valley. Put a toothpick in the power-steering cover hole or cover with a baggie and rubber band.
Wash the entire engine down with a hose at moderate pressure (not a pressure washer). Then start the truck and get in there with a good light and look carefully around the fuel filter (around the water separator drain too). Look for fuel...I bet it is a fuel leak...maybe the drain o-rings.
The white smoke is unburned fuel...it is, I think another problem you might be having (glow plugs or glow plug relay, which is easy to fix). Does the white smoke occur all the time or just when you start it up until it warms up? How is the truck running, other than the smoke?
Wash the entire engine down with a hose at moderate pressure (not a pressure washer). Then start the truck and get in there with a good light and look carefully around the fuel filter (around the water separator drain too). Look for fuel...I bet it is a fuel leak...maybe the drain o-rings.
The white smoke is unburned fuel...it is, I think another problem you might be having (glow plugs or glow plug relay, which is easy to fix). Does the white smoke occur all the time or just when you start it up until it warms up? How is the truck running, other than the smoke?
Last edited by nlemerise; Oct 15, 2007 at 05:07 PM.
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From: East Peoria, IL
the truck is running fine besides the smoke..it first started as smoke at startup only in the mornings around 40*...then it has progressed to smoke at WOT and whenever you let off of the accelerator completely after accelration..it also occurs sometimes at slow speeds accelerating
Hotshot
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Originally Posted by nhill2090
the truck is running fine besides the smoke..it first started as smoke at startup only in the mornings around 40*...then it has progressed to smoke at WOT and whenever you let off of the accelerator completely after accelration..it also occurs sometimes at slow speeds accelerating
Or filter?...
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Concord NC
Don't think an oil or fuel leak on the outside of the engine will cause any smoke from the exhaust. Might cause the engine compartment to smoke, or if it drips on something hot, smoke from under the truck, but not out of the tail pipe. Me thinks you have two issues. Check you plug in the end of the oil rail on the right side, about the only thing I can think of that would leak down over the starter. May need a new oring.
Oil leaks that end up in the valley usually end up dripping out of the tranny inspection cover.
EDIT: On the white smoke, Mine did that when my EBPV stuck partially closed. Also noticed slight power drop. Don't see where you have gauges.
Oil leaks that end up in the valley usually end up dripping out of the tranny inspection cover.
EDIT: On the white smoke, Mine did that when my EBPV stuck partially closed. Also noticed slight power drop. Don't see where you have gauges.
Last edited by zx250; Oct 15, 2007 at 06:03 PM.
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From: East Peoria, IL
ok guys..it does not smell like fuel im pretty sure its oil
i think that the tranny guy that did my tranny a week and a half ago may have forgotten to tighten a bolt or something else because it appears to be leaking from between the tranny and engine
and you could be right about the glow plugs..i checked the relay and it tested out ok i havent checked the plugs yet though
EDIT: i just saw your post and no i do not have gauges, and i wonder if the white smoke could be because i just made my own ebp tube out of 5/16" brake line and i think the sensor is bad but i am planning on ordering both VERY soon
i think that the tranny guy that did my tranny a week and a half ago may have forgotten to tighten a bolt or something else because it appears to be leaking from between the tranny and engine
and you could be right about the glow plugs..i checked the relay and it tested out ok i havent checked the plugs yet though
EDIT: i just saw your post and no i do not have gauges, and i wonder if the white smoke could be because i just made my own ebp tube out of 5/16" brake line and i think the sensor is bad but i am planning on ordering both VERY soon
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Have you looked at the valley on top of the engine to see if that's where the oil is coming from. Unless your tranny guy changed out the rear main seal I don't think your leak is related to the removal.
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Posting Guru
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if its oil. . . its black. If its oil and its leaking like you said. . . its probably in the High pressure oil system. There are i believe four plugs on each head and then there is one oil line going to each head. Check all of those fittings. The o-rings sometimes fail. Check them at the HPOP also. it could be out of the turbo pedestal. . . but usually not that kind of volume. When it leaks in the valley. . it will get everywhere. . . small leaks will appear at the bottom of the tranny. . . large leaks will be everywhere. when my HPO line blew. . . it was everywhere. Including all over the axle. Check your oil level. . . and take care of it quick. . . oil on a hot turbo can cause a nasty fire. Since my little episode i carry a fire extinquisher at all times.
tim
tim
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From: Texas
I'm not sure how a leak from above the starter would end up on your axle as well as oil pan. If the valley is dry can you try and give us a little better idea where it's coming from? You might try cleaning the engine first so it's easier to see. Either get you an inspection mirror or after the engine cools down stick your hand in there and feel around for the oil since you can't see the area your worried about.
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From: TN
If its oil off the starter its one of two things. The more likly one since you have smoke is your turbo is shot and you are getting oil into your exhaust system. Pull the intake pipping off and check the shaft for end play, if your turbo has any endplay at all it needs rebuilt or replaced. Also look for oil to be dripping out of the downpipe connection or the uppipes.
The other thing is the hpo galley rail plug on the back of the head. I dont see how it could make smoke unless its just getting on the exhuast but if you have smoke coming out of the exhaust it wont cause that.
The other thing is the hpo galley rail plug on the back of the head. I dont see how it could make smoke unless its just getting on the exhuast but if you have smoke coming out of the exhaust it wont cause that.