Windscreen

A few days ago I started my truck in the coldest temperature since I bought it. It was about 18 deg outside, and I didn't have the truck plugged in. It had been sitting 3 days since I drove it last.

I waited for a single grid heater cycle and it started right up, but ran rough for about 20 sec and puffed quite a cloud of white smoke. After that it cleared right up and ran normally. Later that night, after about a 10 hr cold soak at work it did the same thing, but only for about 5 sec.

I don't think this is normal, but I wanted to get other's opinions on the subject. I've suspected an unbalanced/bad injector since summer, because when the engine is partially warmed up, it has a noticeable knocking sound from the front of the engine that I know it didn't have when new. When fully warmed up (15 min highway driving), the engine is quiet and knock free. I took it to the dealer and got the "they all do that" response.

Truck is bone stock, and has had the TSB reflash for mileage improvement & white smoke on start up. Any suggestions for a good Dodge/Cummins dealer in SE Wisconsin?

Thanks,
Steve

Graphite600

I've noticed, and heard people confrim this on this board, that the 600 motor has a noticeable knock that the 2nd gens didnt have, I think it is normal. But if what you are hearing is extremely loud I would get it checked out.

txhawg

Move to Texas

GreyTD

windscreen, when it's -10 C(18F) or lower try cycling the grid heaters twice before starting. you may find it will start better, less smoke , less knock, especially if it's been sitting for awhile. works everytime for me.

bkrukow

My truck did the exact same thing the first time I started it in cold weather. It has done it a very little bit sence then but never as bad as the first time. It did this last june when I was on vacation in Colorado and when I came home I asked my dealer abough it and they looked it over and found nothing(big suprise ). Ever sense then I have had a what started as a tick and has now evolved into a much deeper nock over the last 8-10 thousand miles. When I got the its normal response from my little local dealer I took it to an much larger dealer with a tech I could trust. After talking to him and describing the smoke and miss at start up he said thats normal for these new cummins. His explanation was that they retard the timing all the way back if sertain criteria are met. He said they wont always do it but when they do its nothing to wory abought. I told him my 98 24 valver never did that and he said that it had no way to control timing on the old ones and now the new ones do. He said it will retard the timing for as long as it sees fit to find where its at and adjust itself to where it should be. It retards itself to the point that it almost wont run causing the white smoke and rough running. I dont like it but he swears theres nothing that can be done abought it. As far as the tick/nock goes that I dont balive is normal and neither did that tech I talked to but Star wouldent let him fix it because its not a drivability issue. I am not done fiteing that one. I will get it fixed or dodge will be less one customer.

nebuniRAM

Mine is the same also, anytime it gets below 40 outside it idles rough for about 10seconds or so. Now if I plug it in over night it starts like it would on a warm summers day, no ticking noises either, may be fuel quality related. I do notice when I run stanadyne performance formula that the engine is much quieter and smoother, most likely from the cetane boost. Diesels do not like cold in general, I believe its just the nature of the beast, if it was injectors wouldnt it do the same when warmer outside also?

Strjock81

Mine starts roughly and idles poorly whenever it sits 24 hours or more. Regardless of temperature it seems. Started back in Sept. sometime when it was warm out. Overnight when it is cold like it has been I get a nice cloud of white smoke and a rough idle for probably 10 seconds. Coldest temp I have started it at is 18 degrees, without heater, although it was colder overnight than that so I am sure the motor was colder than 18 degrees. Other than the rough start and idle it was fine, and fired immediately. I am running a stout dose of power serv. in the white bottle in a 5% biodiesel blend. It is supposed to get down to -5 overnight early next week so that ought to test it nicely!

AKram

No problem with mine down to -10F without plug in. You could have a fuel problem or water in your fuel. Try a quick drain of your fuel filter or replacement of your filter. A good diesel addative at colder temps helps a bunch.

Chubby

I had the bad cold start too on my 04.5 600 I had it reflashed with the newest Info out and at the same time I had the idle/ cruise thing made to work. Since then i am satisified with the way it starts even at highter elevation like 7500 ft. So far so good...... But the reflash i had done was for the smoke at cold start, milage....

Dave65

I am in Michigan and this morning it is 0 outside,just started the truck,it was not plugged in,and it fired right up,no problems,this makes my very happy

Geico266

When its cold outside its normal for the white smoke and strange noises for awhile, even in the older CDT's. Nothing to worry about. Plug it in below 25F if you can.

A remote starter is a good idea also. I just click it and she fires up every time and is ready to roll by the time I get to the truck.

ed paul

it is 7 degrees here,,,didn"t plug the truck in,,bellows dark grey smoke and runs like it is flooded, misses alot also, for 3-4 minutes,,,, had the white smoke, mileage flash ,,,,,,what do ya think? injector?

AKram

Found this link it has some good info on cold weather starting and operation.

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/FAQ/cold_wx.htm

bensdad_canada

I live in central saskatchewan,and with the truck plugged in,inside an unheated
shop the beast fires right up without the manifold heater doing the prestart cycle
at an ambient air temp of -40c.Even outside at work,plugged in,ambient of -25c to
-35c the truck fires right up with one cycle of the heater.The heaters cycle on and off after start though....nature of the beast.Iam running 10W30 oil and caseih
diesel fuel antigel.
2004.5 CTD 600 6sp manual 3500 SRW LWB 4x4

surfram

I think that a good winter additive will solve most people's cold start issues. I run power service(white bottle) when the forecast calls for temps below 20F and the truck always starts right up on the first heater cycle. I have never plugged my truck in and the coldest start has been 4F. If it has been in the 20s or below for a while, it jumps to high idle right away. I don't recall ever seeing any smoke. I add 12oz of power service per 28-29 gallons of fuel.