Smoke question.
Thread Starter
It's my pot and I'll stir it if I want to. If you're not careful, I'll stir your's as well!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,256
Likes: 207
From: Central Mexico.
Smoke question.
For years now have battled a smoke situation with the truck in my signature. When new it did not have this problem. The problem is that on acceleration there is a lot of black smoke. If I really lean on the loud pedal, there is a LOT of smoke. Changed injectors twice (presently F1, 20 over) and there is no difference. Have a Smarty junior and tried different settings and while some settings do make a slight difference, there is nothing significant unless I reduce the power to as low as possible on the Smarty. Acceleration is lousy at that setting.
Recently discovered something; When the OAT is below 12C and the engine is not yet at full operating temperature, there is a lot of black smoke even with gentle acceleration. Once the engine is at full operating temperature for a while, the smoke diminishes a lot. When the OAT is 12C and higher, the smoke is less, even with the engine cold. Once the engine reaches full temp with OAT high, then there is hardly any smoke.
Now starting to wonder if there is some sort of temperature sensor on this engine that changes some parameter i.e. timing when the OAT is below 12C. and engine cold. Does anybody know if sensor like this exists on this engine? If so, where is it located?
This truck lives at an altitude 0f 6,000 - 8,000 feet and that appears to have some influence on the degree of smoke. Have not been at sea level for years, so don't know if that will make any difference. On acceleration the boost quickly hits 24 and the EGT occasionally goes up to 2,400 if I am at WOT for a sustained period, i.e. passing traffic on a steep hill.
Any ideas?
Recently discovered something; When the OAT is below 12C and the engine is not yet at full operating temperature, there is a lot of black smoke even with gentle acceleration. Once the engine is at full operating temperature for a while, the smoke diminishes a lot. When the OAT is 12C and higher, the smoke is less, even with the engine cold. Once the engine reaches full temp with OAT high, then there is hardly any smoke.
Now starting to wonder if there is some sort of temperature sensor on this engine that changes some parameter i.e. timing when the OAT is below 12C. and engine cold. Does anybody know if sensor like this exists on this engine? If so, where is it located?
This truck lives at an altitude 0f 6,000 - 8,000 feet and that appears to have some influence on the degree of smoke. Have not been at sea level for years, so don't know if that will make any difference. On acceleration the boost quickly hits 24 and the EGT occasionally goes up to 2,400 if I am at WOT for a sustained period, i.e. passing traffic on a steep hill.
Any ideas?
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 69
From: Old Norte Mexico
What changed to make it smoke? Did it have a gradual change or change like a light switch? Sounds like the air/fuel balance is way off. Since your turbo pressure is good, think about what would restrict the air from entering the cylinders. I would pull the valve cover off and adjust the valves, and while doing so, inspect the cam shaft for unusual wear.
Too much fuel? You may want to test (have tested) your injectors. Twenty over? Sounds like Flux Diesel sticks. In any event, contact the place your received your sticks from and ensure they are for your '03, and not for another year. I'm sure you know the spray angle changed I think in '04.5 and and the newer ones are not compatible with the piston heads in the '03.
Good luck, brother. I loved my '03 6sp when I had it, even when creeping through bumper to bumper traffic in the SF Bay area.
Too much fuel? You may want to test (have tested) your injectors. Twenty over? Sounds like Flux Diesel sticks. In any event, contact the place your received your sticks from and ensure they are for your '03, and not for another year. I'm sure you know the spray angle changed I think in '04.5 and and the newer ones are not compatible with the piston heads in the '03.
Good luck, brother. I loved my '03 6sp when I had it, even when creeping through bumper to bumper traffic in the SF Bay area.
Thread Starter
It's my pot and I'll stir it if I want to. If you're not careful, I'll stir your's as well!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,256
Likes: 207
From: Central Mexico.
Thanks for the reply. Good ideas.
This was not a sudden change. Had it been sudden, that would have been a big clue and I would have tracked the problem down. This was gradual and why it made me think that I had an injector problem. Yes, these are Flux injectors (F1 at that time) and I discussed the smoke problem with them before buying new injectors. The injectors they supplied did nothing to change the smoke problem. Told them this and they were very good about this and after much discussion, exchanged the injectors for the ones that I have been using now for a few years. These injectors also did nothing to reduce the smoke, so just decided to live with the problem. It was some time after that that I decided to try the Smarty, but wasted my money. I adjusted the valves when I installed the new injectors but have not checked again. I know about the change in spray angle, but presume that Flux know this too and supplied the correct injectors. This engine has always had good power and the new oversized injectors gave me even more. It is estimated that i am pushing about 400 HP.
There is one thing that I have not tried yet, but will do so soon. Many years ago I changed the timing by slightly rotating the tone ring to advance the timing. Not sure sure if my smoke problem started after that. Going to set the tone ring back to factory and then play with the Smarty settings. Could advancing the timing on the tone ring result in smoke?
This was not a sudden change. Had it been sudden, that would have been a big clue and I would have tracked the problem down. This was gradual and why it made me think that I had an injector problem. Yes, these are Flux injectors (F1 at that time) and I discussed the smoke problem with them before buying new injectors. The injectors they supplied did nothing to change the smoke problem. Told them this and they were very good about this and after much discussion, exchanged the injectors for the ones that I have been using now for a few years. These injectors also did nothing to reduce the smoke, so just decided to live with the problem. It was some time after that that I decided to try the Smarty, but wasted my money. I adjusted the valves when I installed the new injectors but have not checked again. I know about the change in spray angle, but presume that Flux know this too and supplied the correct injectors. This engine has always had good power and the new oversized injectors gave me even more. It is estimated that i am pushing about 400 HP.
There is one thing that I have not tried yet, but will do so soon. Many years ago I changed the timing by slightly rotating the tone ring to advance the timing. Not sure sure if my smoke problem started after that. Going to set the tone ring back to factory and then play with the Smarty settings. Could advancing the timing on the tone ring result in smoke?
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 69
From: Old Norte Mexico
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For years now have battled a smoke situation with the truck in my signature. When new it did not have this problem. The problem is that on acceleration there is a lot of black smoke. If I really lean on the loud pedal, there is a LOT of smoke. Changed injectors twice (presently F1, 20 over) and there is no difference. Have a Smarty junior and tried different settings and while some settings do make a slight difference, there is nothing significant unless I reduce the power to as low as possible on the Smarty. Acceleration is lousy at that setting.
Recently discovered something; When the OAT is below 12C and the engine is not yet at full operating temperature, there is a lot of black smoke even with gentle acceleration. Once the engine is at full operating temperature for a while, the smoke diminishes a lot. When the OAT is 12C and higher, the smoke is less, even with the engine cold. Once the engine reaches full temp with OAT high, then there is hardly any smoke.
Now starting to wonder if there is some sort of temperature sensor on this engine that changes some parameter i.e. timing when the OAT is below 12C. and engine cold. Does anybody know if sensor like this exists on this engine? If so, where is it located?
This truck lives at an altitude 0f 6,000 - 8,000 feet and that appears to have some influence on the degree of smoke. Have not been at sea level for years, so don't know if that will make any difference. On acceleration the boost quickly hits 24 and the EGT occasionally goes up to 2,400 if I am at WOT for a sustained period, i.e. passing traffic on a steep hill.
Any ideas?
Recently discovered something; When the OAT is below 12C and the engine is not yet at full operating temperature, there is a lot of black smoke even with gentle acceleration. Once the engine is at full operating temperature for a while, the smoke diminishes a lot. When the OAT is 12C and higher, the smoke is less, even with the engine cold. Once the engine reaches full temp with OAT high, then there is hardly any smoke.
Spoiler
This truck lives at an altitude 0f 6,000 - 8,000 feet and that appears to have some influence on the degree of smoke. Have not been at sea level for years, so don't know if that will make any difference. On acceleration the boost quickly hits 24 and the EGT occasionally goes up to 2,400 if I am at WOT for a sustained period, i.e. passing traffic on a steep hill.
Any ideas?
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