When I bought my truck in October, one of the things I liked the most about it was that even with 230k on the clock it did not smoke at all. Now that the weather has turned cold, I find that it blows a good bit of blue smoke in the morning until it warms up.
I know that start up blue smoke usually means that the valve seals are leaking, but that kind of oil smoke should burn off in the first few seconds (that's how the Toyota diesel in my Landcruiser acts), but this smoking goes on for several minutes.
I'm thinking that maybe the thick, cold oil is overpressuring the turbo bearings and blowing by the seals, is that a possiblity? The truck seems to use very little oil and does not smoke a bit once it warms up, anyone have any other ideas?
moT

 

Mine does the same thing and has since I got it in 97. I blame it on incomplete combution, due to the cold cylinders heads etc. Mine still doesn't use any oil. I could very well be wrong, but the theory keeps me from worrying about it. Rick

 

The blue when cold is incomplete combustion. Natural on a cold diesel at least the first while. Living in northern NY, your weather will get cold enough to do that. Nothing to worry about at all.

 

Some smoke is normal, esepcially when its cold, the cylinders need to build heat for a more complete burn. If the smoke to really bad your KSB may be on the blink.

Use the block heater and Im guess it will much less than without the heater.

 

You might also want to check that the grid heater is actually getting current - dirty or burned relays will click but no current will pass through.

 

moT,
What you have is normal....you can go to the Cummins web site..poke around and you'll find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and one will discuss smoke at start-up. Same thing others have said about incomplete combustion.
Jay

 

From what I understand blue smoke is from burning oil - diesel oil. Diesel fuel is oil and when it doesn't burn completely (like when it's ccccold) it will smoke.

That's what I read in another thread anyway!

 

Diesels don't have valve guide leakage problems because there is no vacuum in the intake tract to suck oil through the intake valve guide.

I also freaked out the first few times I saw blue bacause of my gasser background, until I thought about it and did a mental head slap!

Mark

 

If ever in doubt, just give the smoke a sniff.

You'll be able to tell what it is.
Burning motor oil smells a lot different than raw Diesel, same for burning antifreeze.


phox

 

I agree. Time to get rid of this cold weather. Just a balmy -10 this morning on the chill meter. Working in -5 last night trying to straighten out my plow frame on the truck. Those salamader heaters just don't put out much warm heat at that temp but it was warmer then NOTHING.

 

Good point, I didn't think of that!
Perhaps the Toyota engine smokes for a much shorter time because it's an indirect injection engine, and the precombustion chamber heats up faster?

Another good idea:
And yes, the smoke smells of diesel, not burning Rotella!

Thanks guys!

moT