on a 97 cummins does the heater grid have two parts to it so that one part, say 3 cylinders are being heated and the other 3 are not and could this be causing smoke for extended period after startup? Smoke goes away after driving for maybe 5 to 10 minutes.

Or does the whole thing work or not work. I notice the wait to start light does come on for a few seconds still.
thanks,
Matador

 

It is just underneath the intake horn. Pretty sure it feeds all 6 cylinders.

 

Is it possible that half or thereabouts of it could burn out and the other half or thereabouts still work even though it is one piece grid?

The reason I ask is because of the smoke that takes so long to clear up after starting. It still smokes even when the water temp shows it to be operation temperature. It only goes away after getting it out on the road for 5 to 10 minutes.

If I shut the truck off for a half hr it will smoke again for a little bit but not as long as before.


Injectors have been taken out and pop tested and checked out to be excellent as they are only about a yr old. The new injectors are the same as original.

The truck seems to throw out quite a bit of black smoke sometimes when getting on it. Other times it doesnt. I am thinking it may be something sticking in the P7100 fuel pump or the intake heater grid not working.

I recently had problems with the fuel shutoff selenoid. If it was not pulling the fuel arm all the way on, what problems would that cause?


The truck runs and pulls excellent otherwise. Uses about qt of oil per 3000 miles.

thanks for any imput,
Matador

 

Matador:

The grid heaters are only supposed to work below 55*F. When they turn on, you will see a big temporary drop in amps on your guage as they cycle on and off. I don't believe this is the cause of the smoke situation you describe. You may want to check your timing, overflow valve, fuel filter first. How many miles on the truck?


John (DH)

 

Hello BBWD,
There is appx 225,000 on the truck. Timing is appx 15.5 degrees advanced. Overflow valve was replaced about a yr ago. Fuel filter has about 5000 miles on it. The fuel pressure is normal and boost pressure seems to about right as well.
Thanks,
Matador