A Smoking Diesel Engine
What Do The Different Colors Of Smoke Mean?
The color of the smoke coming out of a diesel engine that's not running properly or showing signs of poor mileage can tell you a lot and is the first step when you start your troubleshooting process. Smoke colors to take note of are black, white and blue.
Since there are so many different diesel engine manufacturers and configurations the plan of attack depends on the engine model especially when dealing with the fuel system.
When there is an imbalance between air and fuel meaning too much fuel or not enough air induction Black Smoke will occur. Checks you can perform:
* Check the air filter for a restriction.
* Check for faulty injectors or injector pump.
* Check Turbocharger boost reading or inspect for any failures (turbine / compressor wheel)
* Check the cylinder head valve adjustment.
White Smoke means there is inefficient combustion within the engine cylinders.
* The engine timing or injection pump timing could be out of spec. or there is an internal failure
* Air in the fuel causing starvation to the injection system.
* Low engine compression
* A Possibility of water in the fuel
NOTE:
* If you get coolant loss and white smoke that will indicate a possibility of a faulty EGR or "hopefully not" a cracked block. There are several others mishaps that could happen these are just a couple examples. Case in point: We have an engine with a cracked block that was using excessive amounts of coolant and blowing white smoke out the exhaust. This is where an oil sample really comes into play. A high level of sodium indicates coolant in the engine oil.
Blue Smoke The term "burning blue" is well known and that's caused by excessive engine oil getting into the combustion chamber.
* Worn compression rings or oil rings
* Worn cylinder bore causing blow by and excess oil to enter the cylinder
* Engine crankcase over full
* Oil entering the fuel system
Of course this is very general and is meant to get you thinking when the smoke develops more than usual. cold starts in the winter season will produce white smoke which is normal. This will clear up once the engine reaches operating temperature. The diesel engine is your friend as long as you jump on small problems before they get bigger. :)
What Do The Different Colors Of Smoke Mean?
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| Thank you to the us.gov EPA Dept. |
The color of the smoke coming out of a diesel engine that's not running properly or showing signs of poor mileage can tell you a lot and is the first step when you start your troubleshooting process. Smoke colors to take note of are black, white and blue.
Since there are so many different diesel engine manufacturers and configurations the plan of attack depends on the engine model especially when dealing with the fuel system.
When there is an imbalance between air and fuel meaning too much fuel or not enough air induction Black Smoke will occur. Checks you can perform:
* Check the air filter for a restriction.
* Check for faulty injectors or injector pump.
* Check Turbocharger boost reading or inspect for any failures (turbine / compressor wheel)
* Check the cylinder head valve adjustment.
White Smoke means there is inefficient combustion within the engine cylinders.
* The engine timing or injection pump timing could be out of spec. or there is an internal failure
* Air in the fuel causing starvation to the injection system.
* Low engine compression
* A Possibility of water in the fuel
NOTE:
* If you get coolant loss and white smoke that will indicate a possibility of a faulty EGR or "hopefully not" a cracked block. There are several others mishaps that could happen these are just a couple examples. Case in point: We have an engine with a cracked block that was using excessive amounts of coolant and blowing white smoke out the exhaust. This is where an oil sample really comes into play. A high level of sodium indicates coolant in the engine oil.
Blue Smoke The term "burning blue" is well known and that's caused by excessive engine oil getting into the combustion chamber.
* Worn compression rings or oil rings
* Worn cylinder bore causing blow by and excess oil to enter the cylinder
* Engine crankcase over full
* Oil entering the fuel system
Of course this is very general and is meant to get you thinking when the smoke develops more than usual. cold starts in the winter season will produce white smoke which is normal. This will clear up once the engine reaches operating temperature. The diesel engine is your friend as long as you jump on small problems before they get bigger. :)
