All of a sudden a couple of weeks ago my 1991 dodge diesel D250 started spewing white smoke on start-up and would run really rough for quite a while. There is a noticeable lack of power and just does not run well at all.

 

are your grid heaters kicking in? try changing your fuel filter.

 

This is exactly the same problem Im having...check out my thread..."My dad started..."

 

Sounds like you have an air leak in the low pressure side of the fuel system. Lightly pressurize the fuel tank (use a shop rag and an air nozzle) to turn your air leak into a diesel leak.

 

White smoke is usually a sign of antifreeze burning, you might have a headgasket leak.

 

yeah, but only in the morning for a minute? and then not doing that the rest of the day, at all? I havent noticed any overheat tendancies either....Just askin...

 

my buddy has a 92 3/4 ton that would white smoke in the mornings and run rough all the time. His has 190something thousand miles for reference. First problem he was having was the rough runnin he raplaced the lift pump first to try to fix it. While installing it he overtightened a fitting which made it leak/suck air, but did not notice this untill later. Truck still running rough now, one morning while engine was cold after cranking it he felt of each exhaust manifold thingy and noticed that #6 was way cooler than the rest. So he puts in a set of injectors, 60 horse i think, made the truck run much better but still white smokin when cold. Noticed the cracked lift pump changed it and all is well agian. Maybe yours is something simular.

Good Luck