Ok, if I step on the throttle when cranking, truck starts right away, it hardly has a chance to even rotate before it starts....... But, a cloud of black smoke accompanies this method. If I don't touch the throttle, it has to turn over quite a few times before it starts. Idle is ~750 - 800.

Also if I feather the throttle at idle or on downshift, I also get a good cloud of (black) smoke.

I know it's a diesel and all, but don't notice this smoke when following other similar trucks. Just wondering???

R...

 

Is it new to you ? do you know if its had any modificatoins ? maybe its runing more fuel and the timing mite be the bigest part of that if there are no problums.

 

I haven't done anything to the truck yet, but not sure on the previous owner. I wondered about the timing too, but, $80.00 to get it checked........ Wanted a few more opinions before I "waste" the money........

Actually, other than the "different" strarting procedure and some black smoke, it runs pretty decent............. Course, it's the only one I've driven, so..........

R...

 

Ricktye that is how mine starts too have read that is the norm for some of use.

 

Interesting....... One other thing, does yours' idle low until it warms up? Mine idles about 650 RPM for the first five minutes or so then it idles ~750 - 800 rpm.......

R...

 

If you have an auto trans, the idle should br 750-800 RPM with it in drive and the A/C on.

 

It's a 5 speed, and as I said above, it does idle at `750 - 800 rpm once it's warmed up for a few minutes, but initially around 650 rpm or so when I first start it.......... Maybe they're all like that?

R...

 

I have a 1996 and it too idles low until it warms up, at start up around 600-650 and after running for a few minutes it comes up to about 750.
I actually read my owners manual, (something I have never done before) and learned that when starting cold to depress accelerator pedal and hold at about 1000 rms for a couple of minutes. and during this time some smoke may be present. I hope this helps.

 

Ok, thanks for the ideas. Maybe it's just the nature of the beast!

R...

 

There was a TSB about setting the idle speed from the tach readings in the truck not being accurate. This may be your problem. See if this can shed some light on the matter for you.

TSB

I set the idle on my 1997 and it started easier. I then had the occasion to put it on a scanner I was only 18 RPM too high. So I guess I was pretty lucky. BTW it dosen't idle too much lower when it's first cold. Yours might not be high enough.

 

Well, from the TSB, being as mines' a manual, it looks like a bit high is better than too slow....... I'll crank it up a bit.

R...