Lots of white smoke/very rough at cold start

[TexasFF]

Truck starts great when warm. (the 93)

Sits overnight and idles ROUGH and blows white smoke out for 30 sec to a minute, then runs fine and starts fine the rest of the day.

What's most likely and how do I diagnose?

1. Cracked head leaking coolant overnight? Or other source?

2. Fuel backing up overnight? (I've heard it could burn white)

3. Oil leaking through? Doesn't have any type of tint to it

Thanks in advanced! You all are great.

[mychevytruck]

Seems to me that it would be a head gasket,If memory serve's me right a cracked head will leak worse when the motor warms up.

[TexasFF]

Thanks mychevytruck! That's good news compared to a cracked head, right?

I would hate to open one, but a gasket's easier than a head.

Any way to figure out where?

[sixnickel]

You did not say if you are loosing coolant. If no coolant loss, then chances are it's not a head or gasket problem. The first thing would check are all 8 glow plugs working? A few plugs not working will cause white smoke and a rough engine for about 30 seconds. That's where I'd start checking.

[TexasFF]

I guess I can't rule out glow plugs. Think I outta pull out the block heater and plug it in? NEVER been used in over 17 years.

[trukdoc]

...your glo-plugs...you have some that aren't liting...white smoke is low engine heat once ti starts to warm up it goes away...if you had a coolant/head issue the smoke wouldn't go away and would be accomponied by a sweetish smell...jd

[TexasFF]

Thanks everybody! I'm optomistic now.

I broke down 250 miles away from home a couple of weeks ago. Mechanic told me I probably had a cracked head, but he didn't know for sure.

But he also told me to use reg starting fluid and took two attempts to figure out the lift pump was bad even after I told him fuel filter and water seperator valve weren't producing ANYTHING.

[BadAxe]

Hey Tex, I'm having the identical problem in the mornings. The dealer where I bought the truck claims to have replaced them, but it doesn't act like they did. I show power to them but guess it's time to pop em' out.

Where are you a Firefighter?

[sixnickel]

A old postOne thing people over look with glow plugs is the connectors. They put new glow plugs in and it still starts hard and smokes, and they want to blame the new glow plugs. I have fixed many starting problems by replacing the push on connectors. Think about it those things are down on the bottom of the heads grabbing all kinds of road crap for thousands of miles, they start to corrode, loose there tension and then you pull them off, change the glow plugs put them back on this loosens them up more and you expect them to carry 10 to 12 amps to the new glow plug????? I feel that if that you have "all your ducks in row" these things will start easy down into the single numbers without being plugged in. Good 800 CCA+ battery's, good tight battery connections especially the stacked terminal on the right battery. good cables, grounds, healthy starter, good filters, Good fuel, good fuel additive,good glow plugs and connections to the glow plugs they will start in the cold. Below 0 deg F ya maybe plug it in!! I have been driving 6.2s/6.5s over 20 years and maybe plugged in 5 times. Here on Cape Cod MA it does get down into the single numbers a few times every winter and they start!!! Back when I first bought my 99 burb it was 4 years old with the original battery's I was in CT over night 2 degs F in the morning it flipped right over on the 3rd or 4th compression stroke after the 1st glow cycle!!! NOT PLUGGED IN. They will start!!!
__________________
Doug Martin - Cape Cod, MA

2000 K3500 SRW 6.5TD, FSD Heat Sync, 80hp ssd-computer, 4" aluminized exhaust,ssd Marine Injectors, ssd induction kit, Isspro Gauges, Gear Venders under/overdrive unit

1999 K1500 Suburban 6.5TD, FSD Cooler, 40hp BD Computer, ssd Fuel-miser injectors, ssd induction kit, Isspro Gauges

1991 V1500 Suburban 6.2TD, Banks Sidewinder turbo package, 6.5TD heads of mine

[vail426]

Thanks everybody! I'm optomistic now.

I broke down 250 miles away from home a couple of weeks ago. Mechanic told me I probably had a cracked head, but he didn't know for sure.

But he also told me to use reg starting fluid and took two attempts to figure out the lift pump was bad even after I told him fuel filter and water seperator valve weren't producing ANYTHING.

Starting fluid is a good way to lunch a 6.5. Boom...

[TexasFF]

Hey Tex, I'm having the identical problem in the mornings. The dealer where I bought the truck claims to have replaced them, but it doesn't act like they did. I show power to them but guess it's time to pop em' out.

Where are you a Firefighter?

Missouri City

You might recognize Houston as one of our suburbs. :D


I was under the impression that WD40 was a much safer alternative to ether.

[Stumped]

Scotts furniture polish works way better than wd-40...

[BadAxe]

Tex, I got a buddy that's works that suburb of yours. We started El Paso Fire together back in '94. I did 6yrs there at the busiest station and now with Boulder Fire for the past 10.

Well, spent the afternoon changing out the glowplug conections. Must admit I only got 6 of the 8, the ones behind the turbo are a little difficult to get to. The 2 I didn't get were nice and tight and 4 of the one I did get slid right off. We will see how it starts in the AM.

I also cleaned the air filter, secured a couple heat shields, found an exhaust hanger that had come loose, and cleaned up the "egr/breather". Inside I replaced a hinge pin and tried to prep it for a stereo. Talk about a rats nest under the dash.