Notices
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

White smoke!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 10, 2010 | 09:24 PM
  #1  
Harley250SD's Avatar
Harley250SD
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
White smoke!!

So there I was minding my own business at a stop light when I noticed the back of the truck was obscured in white smoke. My first thought was that it was someone else. Then I remembered reading here on FTE about the EGR coolers going bad. My truck is an 05 6.0 250 Harley edition. I had previously cleaned and unplugged the EGR. From everything I've read here, I'm leaning heavily toward the cooler but want to ask what ELSE it could be. The mechanic I have it at now tried the trick of jacking the back end with the EGR out and got no fluid but said there was a crap load of carbon buildup in the intake that might be blocking the fluid and he still thinks it's the cooler. Before I pay him to fix the cooler, I want to make sure that's what is wrong.

Any thoughts from the experts?
 
Reply
Old Jun 10, 2010 | 09:41 PM
  #2  
m-chan68's Avatar
m-chan68
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,504
Likes: 256
From: Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
Club FTE Silver Member

Don't forget to replace the oil cooler and the screen under the cooler too, since THAT's what likely caused the EGR cooler failure in the first place, while he's at it.
 
Reply
Old Jun 10, 2010 | 09:50 PM
  #3  
Powerstroke_wannabe's Avatar
Powerstroke_wannabe
Posting Guru
20 Year Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 1
From: Middleburg, FL
Club FTE Silver Member

Yep. It's standard practice to replace the oil cooler whenever the EGR cooler goes.
 
Reply
Old Jun 10, 2010 | 09:56 PM
  #4  
gearloose1's Avatar
gearloose1
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Unburnt fuel.

It is almost certain not EGR cooler if it is not "wet" AND:

If you are not losing coolant and coolant is not puking and there is no presence of exhaust gas in the coolant (head gasket), it is unburnt fuel.

Complete cleanout of intake plenum, EGR valve, Turbo, and Italian tuneup where you can't reach.

I had that problem too.. got rid of it without ever touching the heads and EGR cooler.

Oh... after you do the cleanout.. put back in a properly functioning EGR valve (a brand new one) and plug it in... and run your tests.


I have a theory that an unplugged EGR do not prevent carbon build in the intake plenum --- and when there is enough pressure there, it is possible for the valve to be forced open by gas pressure alone, and let the carbon built up into the intake.

Jamming the intake / exhaust valves or the turbo vanes would have exactly the symptom you described.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 09:53 AM
  #5  
Harley250SD's Avatar
Harley250SD
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies. I am losing coolant as I had to add about 1.5 gallons last week. The temp gage went to the red and i found I was low on coolant. That's when it started the whiet smoke bit. Does that change your opinion or shou8ld I be looking to unburnt fuel instead.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 09:56 AM
  #6  
m-chan68's Avatar
m-chan68
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,504
Likes: 256
From: Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by Harley250SD
Thanks for the replies. I am losing coolant as I had to add about 1.5 gallons last week. The temp gage went to the red and i found I was low on coolant. That's when it started the whiet smoke bit. Does that change your opinion or shou8ld I be looking to unburnt fuel instead.
Sounds like the classic case of yet another failed EGR cooler on a 6.0L.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 10:47 AM
  #7  
gearloose1's Avatar
gearloose1
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by Harley250SD
Thanks for the replies. I am losing coolant as I had to add about 1.5 gallons last week. The temp gage went to the red and i found I was low on coolant. That's when it started the whiet smoke bit. Does that change your opinion or shou8ld I be looking to unburnt fuel instead.


If you are losing coolant --- the usual suspects.

EGR Cooler, Oil Cooler Plugged, Head Gaskets, etc.
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 11:36 AM
  #8  
skoveng's Avatar
skoveng
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
I would guess if your EGR has been un-plugged the coolent isn't finding its way to the exhaust thru the intake manifold then cylinders. It would have to be backing up into the exhaust from the EGR cooler.

If it was pucking I would guess a head gasket.

Just thinking out loud.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 11:44 AM
  #9  
ADAMZ's Avatar
ADAMZ
Mountain Pass
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Eastville, VA
Mine was doing the same exact thing you are talking about. Pulled it appart had water running out of the passanger up pipe and out of the exhaust side of the EGR cooler. Do not have and EGR cooler any more just got finished with it today.

Adam
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 07:21 PM
  #10  
rickatic's Avatar
rickatic
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 2
Classic egr cooler/oil cooler failure sequence.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2010 | 07:34 AM
  #11  
KTM-Orange's Avatar
KTM-Orange
New User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
My '05 did the exact same thing yesterday also. Had to buy water on the side of the road from a QT.

So what kind of cost am I looking at to replace the oil and EGR cooler?

Thanks for the help guys.

Andy W.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2010 | 07:43 AM
  #12  
gearloose1's Avatar
gearloose1
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Before you do that, measure EOT ECT differential and confirm the diagnostics.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
karter81
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
6
Feb 26, 2016 02:23 PM
harley3348
Clutch, Transmission, Differential, Axle & Transfer Case
1
Jun 1, 2011 11:42 PM
mblanken881
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
9
Nov 4, 2010 07:56 PM
fx4hauler
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
13
Aug 16, 2009 09:36 AM
jwpurl
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
4
May 14, 2009 09:23 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:36 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

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


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE