On cold 10*F or lower nights, when I start my truck in the morning and back out of the driveway I start to go and it chugs out a cloud of bluish white smoke - cold combustion?

Clears up right away.

Doesn't do it when its decent out.

 

what you are seeing is normal, an cold starts and drives the moisture in the exhaust system becomes somting like fog due to rapid cooling in he tailpipe, the blueish colour is (I think) just the cold diesel fuel etc etc.. my truck at this time of year does this on a daily basis, simply because the average temp here for feb is 10*F about -10*c

hope this helps.

 

The newer fuels are not so great in the cold climates for our old rigs. I get that all the time even with additives.

 

That is normal. White smoke is unburned fuel. Also, the engine doesn't seal well when it is cold so you get some blue smoke until parts have expanded.

 

I should add that it doesnt want to move - like its chugging - until all of that smoke is out - like 2-3 seconds.

If I let it warm up (Easton on the accelerator) then it doesn't happen.

 

yes that can happen to me too, I think is just the turbo not wanting to spool, due to the cold and thick oil.

you may find that it stalls due to rapid movements on the accellerator pedal while in gear as well.

 

my 97 will stall if i tap the throttle and let off it quick when its first started no matter what time of year. and ideas as to what causes it?

 

Low idle typically does this. Once you have governor springs, you get more of a rapid blurp as it goes below idle and recovers.

Get out the tools and make sure the idle is where its supposed to be. 12V idle adjustment