Well I went out to start my 02 CTD, and it took a little crankin to get it going. My bro was out playin under the hood of his car, and he said that when I started my truck it smoked with a slight blue haze to it. He said that the blue means it was burning oil. I know the 02 CTDs smoke on start up, but what about the possiblity of burning some oil? I would think that it would be normal to burn a little, but is this a sign that something is or is on it's way to going bad? Any advice or ideas would help. Thanks

 

is it getting a bit cold out there by any chance ....... blue is also improperly burnt diesel fuel .........it's normal for em to smoke blue a bit when they're cold and the temps are just right, but it's not oil don't worry

 

Depending on your ambient temperature it could be this. did you allow the intake heater to time out? if it was cool enough and you did NOT a longer crank time and blue smoke would be normal.

 

How cold was it?

Diesel fuel is oil so yes, you were burning oil, but you do that every day.

Mid 30's I get a little puff of bluish white smoke out of my stock '02.
Below freezing it smokes for a little longer till the engine temps get up a bit.
Below zero it looks like I'm mosquito fogging, poor neighbors house is engulfed with it.

If ever in doubt, give the smoke a sniff, you'll be able to tell if it is Diesel, motor oil, antifreeze etc.


phox

 

Well it was cold that night, the nights here are really coolin down. My truck had been sittin all day to before I went out. I just wanted to check to make sure, I guess I just haven't really paid any attention before. But now that I have learned soo much I notice stuff on my truck and pay close attention now. Thanks for the help.

 

Mine has only smoked one time that I am aware of, at elk camp a couple of years ago it was -10F and it smoked like crazy. I was getting worried and my brother with a powerstroke said don't worry his does it any time them gets below 40F
CJ

 

If the smoke is truly a "blue smoke" then it's engine oil.

Bluish white or just white is unburnt diesel. This is VERY common with cold starts. It's normal.

Diesel will do one of 3 things:

1) go through the engine and come out unburned because the engine is very cold
2) go through the engine and come out oxidized, but not burned. It got hot enough, but there wasn't enough oxygen-- this is soot or black smoke
3) go through the engine, burn completely, and produce hot vapors into the exhaust- no smoke

jlh

 

Thanks for the help guys