So I've only had this L185 tractor a week or so. It has started and run great until Saturday when it all of the sudden lost power and started pouring out white smoke. I had the injectors checked and they opened at 1900 psi. The spray patterns were OK. One sprayed a little better then the other and after some solvent they looked "fine" according to the guy who tested them. I flushed the fuel tank, pump, and lines...new filter also. There has been no change. It starts, but runs very rough. There is barely enough power to move it in high gear. Tons of white smoke coming out of the exhaust. No loss of coolant at all. Not sure where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated.
Trying to narrow down causes of white smoke.
- Thread starter joeyb
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Baby Grand
Elite Member
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- Nov 12, 2007
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- 4,649
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- Windsor, CT.
- Tractor
- Kubotas: L3240GST B2320HST B5100D & G5200H
Water in the fuel?
Well, I flushed the fuel tank, put in new lines and new filter. Also let a bunch bleed out of the bolt on the pump afterwards. Wouldn't that be enough??
3BPercherons
Silver Member
If I remember correctly the 2 main causes of white smoke from a diesel are unburned fuel and moisture. I've also heard that a head gasket seal that isn't seating properly can be a cause.
Baby Grand
Elite Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2007
- Messages
- 4,649
- Location
- Windsor, CT.
- Tractor
- Kubotas: L3240GST B2320HST B5100D & G5200H
Was the fuel you refilled the tank with from the same source?
No. It was full when I bought it. I got rid of all that. I took my realtively new five gallon can and filled it at the station. I've used that can to put fuel in my pickup a couple of times so I don't think there's anything wrong with it?
638
Platinum Member
Disconnect the air filter. Sounds like its starving for air.
sqidget
Silver Member
Does the smoke have a sweet or antifreeze smell? if it does the head is suspect, if not Perform a cylinder cutout test. Let the engine run at the rpm where it runs or smokes the worst, one at a time loosen the injection lines at the injector. listen, and feel for a change in running. Also watch the smoke, when you loosen the line at the bad cylinder the smoke will stop,(after a few moments you can give it 20 or more seconds) and no difference in running will be noted. Tighten that line and move to the next. A good cylinder will increase the shake, you will know when it changes. When you locate the bad cylinder, perform a compression test. If the compression is good look at the injector of that cylinder closely. Timing, compression, and injector leakage will cause white smoke. If no one cylinder is located look closely at your fuel system. A suction leak (between the tank and supply pump sometimes including a filter) will allow enough air into the fuel to change the timing enough to cause low power and white smoke. remember there is no pressure in the suction side and sometimes will not show as a externally visible leak. it could be chaffed, cracked etc. If this is not the case verify proper injection pump timing.
Good luck, Dave
Good luck, Dave
Thank you Dave. Here's what I found out..When cracking the line closest to the fuel tank the smoke reduced significantly and there was no difference in rpm, sound, etc..When I cracked the line on the front cylinder the motor stopped immediately. Then I swapped the injectors and tried the test again. Same thing happened.
I now know for sure both injectors work but the back cylinder is not firing properly. Either injector when run in that cylinder comes out wet and sooty. Either injector coming out of the front cylinder looks dry.
I don't have a compression tester but because the motor does start out ok and get worse I'm thinking it might be ok there?
Fuel lines are new. So I guess it's either do an actual compression test or check pump timing. Is the pump timing thing easy?
