white "puff" smoke on start up

[dizdak]

did a little looking around and didn't find what i was looking for, So - lately seems that when i start the truck it wants to "puff" white smoke, its not constant almost like when it hits only a cylinder or 2 maybe... What could cause this? Once it warms up for 30 or so seconds it seems to clear...

 

[snicklas]

Sounds like a bad glow plug. That cylinder is not firing off when it is supposed to when its cold. Get a bit of heat in the cylinder, and it is off to the races.....

 

[dizdak]

thats what i was kinda thinking.. glow plugs are only about 1.5yrs old, and in FL they don't get much of a workout..

 

[snicklas]

Understood. Down there you can get by with one or two failed and still probably start ok. Up here you KNOW when you have issues. Like today.... it is ~10:40 AM EST and we have just now reached 11 degrees Fahrenheit. Today is good plugs and the block heater just for good measure.

 

[icanfixall]

Cali really never has conditions requiring glow plugs unless your in a freeze area. Not many of us live in that inviroment either. For me a cold morning start with no plugs. Just turn key till the engine spins will take a few revs till it fires. That temp is usually around 55 degrees if and when I do that. Longer cranking builds oil pressure.

 

[dizdak]

just for a laugh, here in FL at the moment 1:29pm, its actually 49 deg...

 

[direwulf23]

It was nearly single digits this morning in North Central Arkansas

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

 

[sassyrel]

Today is good plugs and the block heater just for good measure.[/QUOTE]

chicken......

 

[sjwelds]

yeah here in central KS too. now it's up to nearly 40.

Not quite time to open the doors on the shop yet tho.....

 

[Kistthesky]

just for a laugh, here in FL at the moment 1:29pm, its actually 49 deg...

Hope you're protecting against frost bite!

 

[dizdak]

hell yeah man, i put socks on under my flip flops!!!

 

[Knuckledragger]

Not to be a party pooper, but white smoke is not always dribbling injectors. If it does not persist, it probably is, but if it continues, or gets worse, try to determine if it is fuel or condensation. You may have a bad head gasket or worse.

 

[franklin2]

I don't think I have ever seen a diesel of any type that did not smoke a little bit on cold start-up. It's just unburnt fuel unless it doesn't clear up after it warms up.

 

[dizdak]

it does seem to clear up..

 

[Zaggnutt]

I have had the problem for a while. My understanding is that it is dribbling injectors. I have a leaking IP and possibly bad injectors as well. A bad injector is not "popping" at the proper pressure so as a result it dribbles out raw fuel onto the cylinder and sits there til you start it again or leaks down along the cylinder wall. Mine smokes every time I start it all day long regardless of temp of air or engine. It goes away after about 30 seconds.