Heavy white smoke cold start

[Pstyckiewicz]

So I did test the voltage to the wires last year when I changed the glow plugs and they got 24 volts. Also the voltage drops on the gauge during the wait period. But I’m not knowledgeable in the glow processes. I still have to test the other 4 glow plugs on the passenger side.
My exhaust on a cold start is defently a massive amount as well. Like fill my yard and make my clothes smell like unburnt fuel after I escape the fog haha.
I’m leaning towards the glow system as well. I will recheck the wire voltage and check the other glow plugs.
Just trying to narrow it down before I start throwing money at it.

 

[Thunderbirds]

I've read here before one bad plug creates a kot of smoke just because of the unburbed diesel, two or more are exponentially worse.

I recently started to get some white smoke on startup, and I suspect that one plug i didn't replace last summer because it ohmed good and i ran out of time. I'll re ohm and probably replace it this weekend. If it changes anything, I'll report it here.

 

[Boomer T]

Started truck and took the 569B wire of the injection pump and then reconnected it. I could hear the difference when doing that.
I tested the driver side plugs today and they all registered between 1.2-2.5.
I also plugged the block heater in for an hour then started it……no smoke. So glow plugs?
Can 1 bad plug cause a bunch of smoke? I have to test the other side still.

You have a lot of good knowledge here on the site.
With that said, I had a issue sometime ago with rough start smoke for less than minute when starting.
It was a simple glow plug boot on just one of the cylinders not making good contact.

 

[Pstyckiewicz]

Tested a glow plug wire. Getting around 20-21 volts.

 

[Pstyckiewicz]

So a follow up/further narrowing down the smoke issue. I replaced my lift pump due to it leaking. I thought it was letting air into the system somehow and causing the white smoke.

So what I have noticed is a majority of cold starts I get heavy white smoke with the engine stumbling. The truck will blow smoke for a while until the engine is warmed up. If I start it let it idle and drive it before it’s fully warm I get a massive cloud of smoke down the road. Then it will get warm and stop.
Sometimes I cold start the truck and nothing. No stumbling or white smoke.
Sometimes I cold start and it runs fine for 30 seconds then it stumbles and here comes the white smoke.

Anyone have suggestions?
Maybe injector sticking?
Injector pump issue?

I have been putting fuel additives for awhile now so not sure if adding anything to the fuel will help its condition.
Also drained some fuel out the filter to make sure I didn’t have water in there.

 

[98G]

I suspect you have one or more glow plugs not working.

 

[Barrman]

As I wrote in post #2 of this thread. Oily white smoke is lack of heat. Glow plugs are the heat source until the engine gets running on all cylinders. The fast idle/cold start advance on these engines is supposed to stay on until 94° F. That is to help warms it up faster and to keep it running if all 8 aren’t playing nicely.

 

[Pstyckiewicz]

I would agree with you but the only weird thing is if I let it sit for awhile it still blows smoke. Like the 20 minutes and it is still just blowing a fog of smoke. Then the next day I’ll go out there and it will start and no smoke or anything. I’m not sure of the glow cycling on this thing. I know when I turn the key and the wait light comes on and there is power draw. I start it and the power guage goes back to green in a few seconds.

Unless the glow plugs keep coming on for a few minutes after being started I would think after a few minutes of just running it would be warm. But it keeps smoking for awhile.



It just seems like it’s dumping fuel or something.

I thought it was going to be air in the system and loosing timing from what I have read.