Yeah, not thinking it's WIF. I'm sorta narrowing it down to the fuel heater or something in that area. In the past I would push the WIF and just a dribble would come out, but now it streams out like a hose. Also, whenever I open the bleeder screw, a lot of air comes out, even after it was just running, so it appears to me that the filter is full of "carbonated" diesel. I'll keep digging. Thanks again for all the input.

 

I've started following this one as well....and ope it's all right is I jump in with my problems as well.

My 89 motor is hazing/smoking at idle as well. It's white/gray and quite bad when you first fire up in the morning, and then even after it's up to operating temperature it's still smoking...but not as bad. Smoke when idling or driving.

It smokes white/gray when I'm leaving from a light. It smokes as I apply throttle and take off, then shift and apply throttle and it smokes again...and so on.

I initially thought it was because of the WMO I've been using, but I've gone through 2 tanks with no WMO and it's still doing it. Would the 2 cycle oil I'm using for IP lubrication be causing the smoke?

I don't think I noticed the smoking problem earlier since I started driving the truck back in Oct/Nov and it was dark when I went to work, and dark when I came home. Now that it's light out in both directions I'm really noticing the smoke.

Another symptom...maybe...my idle changes depending on the angle the truck is sitting. My idle is set at about 750 rpm on level ground. When the nose is pointing down hill the idle goes up to about 775-800 rpm, then when the nose is up hill the idle drops to about 725 rpm.

 

By all means, jump in.

I going to buy some drag link sockets today to remove the fuel heater (I know I can make something, but I like adding to my tool collection). In my case, I think something is wrong in that region, may be a bad o-ring or cracked housing. Hopefully I can figure this out and return some knowledge to this forum (and vindicate all those that have suggested it's an air leak).

 

I thought the VE pump had a vane pump built in. In past threads I have read where the lift pump could be weak or bad and it would still run. I would try to connect a can of fuel directly to the IP and that should narrow the problem down even more.

Keep on, this is interesting!

Tom

 

Had a great time looking for a drag link socket (should have made one afterall) , but I found one and got the heater off. Nothing obvious wrong, though the heater has evidence of some slight seepage (hate that word) between the block and the top of the heater. The square cut gasket is intact, though it seems it bit short (thin?), like it would barely seal the heater against the block. Using a mechanics mirror (with LED light, found the mirror will looking for the socket!) I can see some slight surface rust where the gasket should seal, so I think I'm on to something here. Good luck finding a square cut gasket right?

 

You should be able to get the gasket from Cummins. I don't have a part number 'cause I got one with the upper engine gasket kit. I think Cummins would know what you're talking about. Call them up and give them your ESN and tell them what you're looking for.

 

Another option is a Case/IH dealer if you have one close.
Here we have a Case in town but for Cummins I have to order out of the city which is 2hrs away.
Case used the 5.9 in their swathers.

 

Got the gasket from Cummins in Sacramento.....not the F'ing problem! I'm trying to squash the temptation to throw a lit flare in the cab and let cooler heads prevail, but this is irritating. The filter is only half full when it's removed, so guess I'll keep looking on the supply side.

 

I think I'm making progress here. I took off the lift pump and reinstalled the one I thought was bad. Checked all the lines and sealed all the fittings, reassembled and spent about 5 minutes pumping the LP arm to make sure all the air was out. Started right up....but still a bit hazy. The smoke however seems more gray than white and isn't as stinky. The smoke is like the early DMAX trucks with bad injectors. I let the truck sit for about 3 hours and tried starting it and it fired right up. I cracked the fuel bleeder screw while it was running and a steady, air-free stream of fuel came out with good force. I'm not calling it fixed just yet, but I think it's better. Could be that I have multiple problems all at once. Might pull the injectors now and make sure they're in good shape.

 

Will "bad" injectors still give decent reliability,starting,performance, but foul exhaust at idle?
If so that may be my issue.

 

Solved! Ordered some injectors from Pensacola Injection (more on that later) so today I decided to get a head start on the removal of the existing. Took the stock injectors out and the tips were completely covered in carbon build up, like 1/16-1/8 thick! Decided to clean the tips with some scotch-brite and solvent and they cleaned up really nice. Presumably the carbon was dramatically changing the spray pattern, so I figured I would reinstall and see what happens (since it's a fairly fast job). Started right up to a haze free idle. Not only that, but the engine sounds different and the exhaust even smell different. Is this build up normal? I'd like to keep that from happening again if possible. The hard starting was do to a bad lift pump that was introducing air into the system.

So, after ordering these injectors I thought I would use the search function on "Pensacola Injection" and geezus did I make a bad purchase! Dose anyone have anything good to say about them? They will promptly be return as soon as they arrive. The moral of the story is don't buy parts until you know it's what you need (and be sure to research before you buy!).

 

These are encouraging words jbawden. I have a stinky white haze at idle as well:

New DDPIII (the older numbering system... +40hp) injectors.

New electric lift pump on the frame mounted at the tank.

All new 3/8" suction and supply hose. New suction hose into tank.

"New" turbo. However, when the old one came off, it's radial play was pristine, and I"m sure the seals are fine.

Still lots of stinky white smoke. When I come in from the road and shes hot, it's fine at idle. But go in the store and come back out, it's white/gray and stinky. Really big cloud at moderate acceleration that's slightly embarrassing.

Truck seems to go well, but can't tell really with the slippery tranny. I may have had several issues as well. Once i replaced the lift pump and lines, perhaps my injectors gummed up too? Thanks for the determination.

Also, to someone else. My truck idles down when the nose is facing uphill too. Backing down a friends VERY steep driveway, she'll drop right down to 550rpm or so, nearly stalling.

 

I'v used some injectors from pensacola. When i first installed them they worked real well, worked good for a year or so. They delivered a very noticeable amount of extra power over the stock injectors, also got anywhere from 16-20mpg using them.

Heres the bad part, after about a year or year and a half they started getting dirty and sticky also really smokey at idle, and the mpg's dropped. I have now had the stock injectors rebuilt. I hope to get a set on sdx injectors in the future to gain back the extra power again.

So basically, those injectors work but dont last long.