Clipper
New Member
Couple of weeks ago I posted a hard start/white smoke problem that I thought might be a head gasket.
Update:
Still starting hard on diesel.
Needs throttle, takes 10-15 seconds, more in cool weather.
Came on suddenly, I've owned the truck for 8 years, and never needed throttle before and started within 2-3 seconds.
When cold, it "kicks" a lot, like it's *trying* to start, then starts with a big cloud of white smoke followed by a puff of black smoke.
Same thing hot..."kicks" a lot, like it's *trying* to start, but a smaller cloud of white smoke followed by a puff of black smoke when it starts.
Here's the REALLY weird part: when I start it hot on VEGETABLE OIL, it starts right up easily, no smoke, 2-3 seconds of cranking. I do not start it cold on veggie oil. I never switch to veggie oil until the oil is up to at least 160 degrees. I have a gauge in the cab.
No detectable loss in power or performance.
Just drove it 830 miles this weekend, San Diego>Tucson>San Diego.
Only symptoms are hard starting with white smoke, then a puff of black smoke when it starts, engine hot OR cold.
Glow plugs were suggested; only two years old but I changed them out anyway.
Had four bad ones.
Also changed my injector fuel return hoses.
(the four on each side that loop to each injector and then to the steel return crossover tube.)
Had a leaky one at the forward injector on the left bank.
Fuel lift pump is operating normally.
Symptoms may have started when I ran biodiesel. I have run biodiesel before, from the same pump (commercially available here in San Diego) but I had not run it in approx 8-10 months. Symptoms started shortly after I filled the tank with bio. Thought I might have got a bad load of bio so I ran the tank almost to empty (took 41.4 gallons in a 42-gallon tank.) Then refilled with #2. Symptoms still the same.
Thought it was a longshot, but because of the "geography" of my veggie oil system under the hood, I changed out the return check valve on the IP. (Diesel returns to the main tank well below the IP; veggie oil returns to a small tank under my hood at about the same level as the IP.)
Any more ideas? FSP maybe? Air getting into the diesel side somehow when the engine is shut off? I have a pressure gauge at the IP inlet; pump pressure is about 6-7 psi cold, 3psi hot. At idle of course.
Problem is maddening and I'm getting frustrated. :mad2: But at least it's still starting.
Update:
Still starting hard on diesel.
Needs throttle, takes 10-15 seconds, more in cool weather.
Came on suddenly, I've owned the truck for 8 years, and never needed throttle before and started within 2-3 seconds.
When cold, it "kicks" a lot, like it's *trying* to start, then starts with a big cloud of white smoke followed by a puff of black smoke.
Same thing hot..."kicks" a lot, like it's *trying* to start, but a smaller cloud of white smoke followed by a puff of black smoke when it starts.
Here's the REALLY weird part: when I start it hot on VEGETABLE OIL, it starts right up easily, no smoke, 2-3 seconds of cranking. I do not start it cold on veggie oil. I never switch to veggie oil until the oil is up to at least 160 degrees. I have a gauge in the cab.
No detectable loss in power or performance.
Just drove it 830 miles this weekend, San Diego>Tucson>San Diego.
Only symptoms are hard starting with white smoke, then a puff of black smoke when it starts, engine hot OR cold.
Glow plugs were suggested; only two years old but I changed them out anyway.
Had four bad ones.
Also changed my injector fuel return hoses.
(the four on each side that loop to each injector and then to the steel return crossover tube.)
Had a leaky one at the forward injector on the left bank.
Fuel lift pump is operating normally.
Symptoms may have started when I ran biodiesel. I have run biodiesel before, from the same pump (commercially available here in San Diego) but I had not run it in approx 8-10 months. Symptoms started shortly after I filled the tank with bio. Thought I might have got a bad load of bio so I ran the tank almost to empty (took 41.4 gallons in a 42-gallon tank.) Then refilled with #2. Symptoms still the same.
Thought it was a longshot, but because of the "geography" of my veggie oil system under the hood, I changed out the return check valve on the IP. (Diesel returns to the main tank well below the IP; veggie oil returns to a small tank under my hood at about the same level as the IP.)
Any more ideas? FSP maybe? Air getting into the diesel side somehow when the engine is shut off? I have a pressure gauge at the IP inlet; pump pressure is about 6-7 psi cold, 3psi hot. At idle of course.
Problem is maddening and I'm getting frustrated. :mad2: But at least it's still starting.
