Cold start haze and rich smell from exhaust

Jeremyleggett07 · Mar 15, 2012

Lately I've been having some hazing at cold starts even till truck completely gets up to temp. It smells like a rich diesel smell. I have not normally smelt this? Any ideas? If I drive before completely up to temp it will billow lil bit of whitish smoke. This only happens before up to temp though. I have added Ar9100 to my oil, which I I've recently switched to Valvoline Premium Blue. I also have started adding Ar6200 to the fuel at fill up.
Just ordered the upgraded fuel spring kit and upgraded "hollow" banjos.

Jeremyleggett07 · Mar 15, 2012

golfer · Mar 16, 2012

have you done any diagnostics?

low FICM voltage can mechanically retard the injection timing (low voltage will mechanically delay the movement of the spool valve)< which would cause the injs to fire very late, possibly as late as still injecting late into the 'power' stroke of each cylinder. here's instructions we give out:

http://www.swampsdiesel.com/site/how_to_pdf/pdf/FICMvoltageTest.pdf

a leaking injector nozzle would dribble fuel into the cylinder through all 4 strokes of the piston, and not just at the top of the compression stroke...< this could be VERY damaging to the engine...you could burn a hole in a piston in very short order.

non functioning GPCM or glowplugs could also explain excess smoke on a cold start...since the cyls wouldn't have warmed up enough to cause more complete combustion of the injected volume of fuel.

if the smoke didn't have such a strong 'diesel' smell...then you might investigate the EGR cooler (if still equipped), or head gaskets...but the strong diesel odor is going to most likely going to be a result of one of the first 3 scenarios.

Jeremyleggett07 · Mar 16, 2012

Honestly it is a strong diesel smell.... Hoping its not injectors.... I can handle the other 2. How hard is it to replace Glowplugs? Already found a set for under $70.

Nic · Mar 21, 2012

golfer said:
have you done any diagnostics?

low FICM voltage can mechanically retard the injection timing (low voltage will mechanically delay the movement of the spool valve)< which would cause the injs to fire very late, possibly as late as still injecting late into the 'power' stroke of each cylinder. here's instructions we give out:

http://www.swampsdiesel.com/site/how_to_pdf/pdf/FICMvoltageTest.pdf

a leaking injector nozzle would dribble fuel into the cylinder through all 4 strokes of the piston, and not just at the top of the compression stroke...< this could be VERY damaging to the engine...you could burn a hole in a piston in very short order.

non functioning GPCM or glowplugs could also explain excess smoke on a cold start...since the cyls wouldn't have warmed up enough to cause more complete combustion of the injected volume of fuel.

if the smoke didn't have such a strong 'diesel' smell...then you might investigate the EGR cooler (if still equipped), or head gaskets...but the strong diesel odor is going to most likely going to be a result of one of the first 3 scenarios.

YUP!! i have the same issue...just a slight haze. glow plugs 1, 5 and 7 on mine are toast. never changed em before but i aint in no hurry. the truck sits pretty in the driveway more than anything.

Dalpilot · Mar 21, 2012

Changing the glow plugs requires a deep 10mm socket. They just unscrew like a sparkplug would on a gasser. Be very caful when taking off the harness as it is very easy to damage the harness.

Jeremyleggett07 · Mar 22, 2012

Dalpilot said:
Changing the glow plugs requires a deep 10mm socket. They just unscrew like a sparkplug would on a gasser. Be very caful when taking off the harness as it is very easy to damage the harness.

Wow seriously? I'm not too knowledgeable on diesel engine tear downs, so I was not sure

Worstenemy453 · Mar 22, 2012

I would only use Motorcraft glow plugs too.

Jeremyleggett07 · Mar 22, 2012

Worstenemy453 said:
I would only use Motorcraft glow plugs too.

You know how much they run?

MorganY · Mar 25, 2012

Jeremyleggett07 said:
You know how much they run?

I paid $7.42 for each at the stealership awhile back

Borcht Warrior · May 25, 2012

I seem to be having a similar problem, but mine is seems to come an go. Could weak glow plugs do this? I have an AE at home and ran a power balance test but I do not know if I did it correctly. Seems like the line just ran straight across will a very small wobble.

My FICM looks to be a little weak AE shows 42 v then 48 then 46. Does it normally jump around?

Jeremy did you figure out what is wrong?

Jeremyleggett07 · May 25, 2012

No I never figured it out yet. My FICM was running pretty well per my CTS never dropped below 47v.... Until the 6hour road trip I just took. I saw 46v. I'm thinkin of replacing my glow plugs to see if it resolves it.

kyle43335 · May 26, 2012

Borcht Warrior said:
I seem to be having a similar problem, but mine is seems to come an go. Could weak glow plugs do this? I have an AE at home and ran a power balance test but I do not know if I did it correctly. Seems like the line just ran straight across will a very small wobble.

My FICM looks to be a little weak AE shows 42 v then 48 then 46. Does it normally jump around?

Jeremy did you figure out what is wrong?

no it should hold hold 48+- .5

fords spec is no lower than 45-46

Jeremyleggett07 · May 26, 2012

Yea I normally saw that then recently seen down to 47 and back up.... But at cruising on the freeway I saw 46v

Jeremyleggett07 · May 26, 2012

Younger1993 said:
I paid $7.42 for each at the stealership awhile back

Did you have to buy the kit and new plugs.... I was told u have to remove the valve cover cause they tend to break off or something.

PSM_Kid · May 27, 2012

Jeremyleggett07 said:
Did you have to buy the kit and new plugs.... I was told u have to remove the valve cover cause they tend to break off or something.

You do not have to remove the valve cover. But as dalpilot stated it doesn't take much to damage the harness. It wouldn't be a bad idea to replace the harnesses if you decide to do glow plugs.

kyle43335 · May 27, 2012

PSM_Kid said:
You do not have to remove the valve cover. But as dalpilot stated it doesn't take much to damage the harness. It wouldn't be a bad idea to replace the harnesses if you decide to do glow plugs.

the harnesses are just a cock to get out,without the vcs and oil rails out.

PSM_Kid · May 27, 2012

kyle43335 said:
the harnesses are just a cock to get out,without the vcs and oil rails out.

Agreed and usually get damaged during the process if you don't pull the valve covers and oil rails. That's why I said he should just do the harnesses while he is in there if he can.