Help...6.7 CTD smoking (update: Cracked injector)

[RamGuy2500]

Took the truck out for the 4th of July on a long haul and now my truck is blowing white smoke during acceleration. I'm completely stock and don't abuse my truck. All fluids and gauges look good. What could cause this?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

tdst51 wrote:
This is what I was told a long time ago. I'm not even close to being a mechanic, but here it is. Probably way more complicated than I realize.

1. White smoke- steam, or water related
2. Blue smoke- oil
3. Black smoke- gas/fuel

Yep, that is correct.

Not even close.

Look at these runaways running on oil.

I blew a turbo seal once and I never seen so much pretty white smoke in your life!

Here is a stuck injector

Blown head gasket



The only way I can tell these apart is the smell. Easy to tell if it's fuel, oil or coolant from the smell.

[jus2shy]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

tdst51 wrote:
This is what I was told a long time ago. I'm not even close to being a mechanic, but here it is. Probably way more complicated than I realize.

1. White smoke- steam, or water related
2. Blue smoke- oil
3. Black smoke- gas/fuel

Yep, that is correct.

In the case of diesels, white smoke can mean a rich diesel fuel mixture. For older diesels can happens when you have a very plugged air filter, for all diesels, can happen with a stuck fuel injector or just a cold start with incomplete combustion in some cases.

[wnjj]

tdst51 wrote:
This is what I was told a long time ago. I'm not even close to being a mechanic, but here it is. Probably way more complicated than I realize.

1. White smoke- steam, or water related
2. Blue smoke- oil
3. Black smoke- gas/fuel

White smoke is also from unburnt diesel. The in-laws' farm 80's Freightliner (Cummins 350) cranks out a ton of it until it warms up.

[fishhogg]

Are you making oil? (Oil level going up) Are you loosing coolant?

[SoCalDesertRid1]

tdst51 wrote:
This is what I was told a long time ago. I'm not even close to being a mechanic, but here it is. Probably way more complicated than I realize.

1. White smoke- steam, or water related
2. Blue smoke- oil
3. Black smoke- gas/fuel

Yep, that is correct.

[tdsxt51]

This is what I was told a long time ago. I'm not even close to being a mechanic, but here it is. Probably way more complicated than I realize.

1. White smoke- steam, or water related
2. Blue smoke- oil
3. Black smoke- gas/fuel

[RamGuy2500]

certified106 wrote:
Man that's crazy....... I have 150,000 miles on mine and they are still fine. I don't have any beefed up fuel filtration either it's all stock. I wonder if you got some bad fuel

I'm pretty sure it's not the fuel but I guess you never know. When traveling I was obviously getting diesel from unfamiliar sources but they were high volume stations. I don't use additives so I know that's not it either.

It looks like the shop is not able to get to my truck until early next week. I guess we'll see what they say. Hopefully they know what they're doing. 😉

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Wouldn't fuel with enough water to ruin injectors trip the water in fuel warning?

Yes and no.

If an unscrupulous station owner has some water in his tanks all he has to do is dump some emulsification agent in his tanks to deal with it.

Also some ignorant truck owners dump additives in their tanks not knowing what they contain or what they do. If they happen to get ahold of an additive that has an emulsification agent in it the water will slide right through the filter like no filter at all.

[RAS43]

Another possibility is that you got some gasoline into the system. There would be no warning light but the damage is just as serious as water.

[coolbreeze01]

Wouldn't fuel with enough water to ruin injectors trip the water in fuel warning?

[The_Mad_Norsky]

certified106 wrote:
Man that's crazy....... I have 150,000 miles on mine and they are still fine. I don't have any beefed up fuel filtration either it's all stock. I wonder if you got some bad fuel

I was thinking the same thing. Bad fuel. Mind you, not arguing at all with what your mechanic says.

But, my only experience with white smoke was on my 2006 Dodge Ram w/Cummins. Got bad fuel and sure enough, white smoke. Cleared up after I refueled at another trusted source for fuel.

[certified106]

Man that's crazy....... I have 150,000 miles on mine and they are still fine. I don't have any beefed up fuel filtration either it's all stock. I wonder if you got some bad fuel

[krsmitty]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
That's really sad that a 2014 already needs injectors. Maybe you got some bad fuel or the fuel filter/separator isn't doing it's job?

Ask your insurance company about a rental vehicle, if you have full coverage with roadside assistance.

Water in the fuel can do a number on injectors.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

That's really sad that a 2014 already needs injectors. Maybe you got some bad fuel or the fuel filter/separator isn't doing it's job?

Ask your insurance company about a rental vehicle, if you have full coverage with roadside assistance.

[RamGuy2500]

Well it looks like you guys were right. Mechanic said its likely the injectors. They won't know more until he gets into it. Bottom line is I'll be without my truck for a few days. I guess there's others ahead of me waiting for some work. I'm more upset that they won't give me loaner in the mean time.