I have a 600 with the build date of 12/18/2003 that has the clatter that has been described here and produces a good amount of black smoke when you romp on it and it starts to wind up. For example, if I romp on it at 1500 or so, it lags as the turbo spools. However, once the turbo gets cranking and the engine comes to life, there is definitely black smoke coming out that I can see in my mirror in plain daylight.

Possibly related is the mileage. It just does not seem to be improving--in fact, when towing, I believe that it may have gotten a little worse. On the inaugural pull of my 15K 5er, I got about 11.2 as reported by the computer. This past weekend, I was down in the 8 range. I have it in the shop for the reflash today in hopes that the code from later engines may do some good on the mileage front.

You guys think I may have an injector issue starting to crop up??

Thanks.

 

My 600 does the same thing. I dont know why it is doing it either. If my mileage wasnt so good I'd probably have it checked but I'm not messing with a good thing.

 

I think something is amiss with yours. I get no smoke from mine. It's a 3/10/04 build date.

 

FWIW my "old" 03 HO will smoke like a freight train if I lug it at 1500 and stomp on it.

 

My engine with a 1/13/04 build doesn't seem to smoke. I noticed only a second or two of white smoke one very cold morning. And, being that my truck is white, and has a white bumper, there is a little soot around near the tailpipe. No smoke at all, even if I stomp it (which I have been known to do, on ocassion ).

 

My back bumper gets a nice coaing of soot on it. I should add that I'm only getting visible smoke when I really get on it. It is hard to spot but I can certainly see it in the headlights behind me.

Does anyone know how I can check the injectors to see if any are loose. I heard someone had this problem.

 

I just installed a stainless 4" turndown on my truck because of the soot on the bumper and quarter panel. My truck has the 555 motor and will give a small puff of smoke if I really nail it from slow speeds. I think that this is normal for any diesel.

 

No soot here or smoke out of my 600 even if I jump on it. Has a build date of 2/28 but I doubt that means anything.

 

No smoke with a 3/15 build date.

 

Guidster, please let us know how the re-flash turns out. I've been wanting to do the same thing but haven't asked the dealer yet. Did your dealer acknowledge the poor mileage and offer a re-flash or is that something you had to push to get them to do?

I have an early build also and I'm getting about 9 mpg pulling a 7x14 enclosed tandem-axle trailer around town. Pathetic!

Thanks!

 

I am going to go pick it up tomorrow. It was there for a couple of days as there was a minor dent in the roof when I got it and I found that the 3rd brake light was not sealed--resulting in a leak when I hand washed it. I suspect that when installed, they used a 3/4" impact to run the screws in as they went THROUGH the besel!

I have my fingers crossed and will definitely pass any info on that I find.

 

I have almost 10,000 on mine w/o any loads. I only see light grayish soot (some times) when mashing it to the floor. I also got the reflash and it did seem to help a small bit w/ performance (mostly when cold). It seems to ping less and may have helped a touch w/ the MPG. My soot was a whiter color before the reflash too. My MPG typically is 17.5.

 

Well, I got the truck back today after the flash was performed. The results from the ol' seat of the pants tell me the following:

• It seems "crisper" and more responsive
• Does not seem to ping as much
• Romping on it does not produce smoke
• The acceleration is more linear--not as explosive when the turbo spools
• MPG may have come up a tiny bit
• Can now start in 3rd gear with no pedal (4.10 gears)

When I say that the accel is more linear, I mean it is not exponential any longer as b4 it would accel at one rate initially(slower) and then just explode as the fuel and the turbo were poured to it--yielding the smoke. Now it is a very brief lag followed by steady, even acceleration and no smoke.

As mentioned above, I can now take off in third with no pedal-no problem. B4 I had to ginger it a bit to get it rolling in 3rd.

The real test will be when I hook up to the 5er this weekend and go for a drive. I like the results so far and only hope that the mellowing in the acceleration does not result in a reduction in pulling ability. I did not buy it to be a drag racer and I like the crisper response and the smoke free steady accel., so if it drags nice and has power when subjected to the load I will be satisfied.

 

BTW, I was told that my truck was the first 600 reflash that was performed at my dealer. The first time they tried when I bought it it did not take--I had to get real specific to get them to tell me that the flash was not successful the first time. This time, I looked for the signs:

• Reflash Tag that shows the modification had been made
• Looked up the codes that are stored: P0633 and P0630--Indicates PCM erasure and flash--goodness.

If you take yours in--and I think that I would, look for the signs above to ensure that it in fact gets the flash.

 

guidster,

How and what do we need to look at the stored codes?