D600 hard start heavy white smoke until running

yooper jim · May 9, 2011

D600 sat for many years (one outside). It is a 1800 RPM (I think) engine out of a reefer. Engine would turn over easily with wrench on crank. When I drained the oil, it had several cups of clear water in it. I assume rain water, because stack is pointed up and had a plastic bag stuck in it. Engine had anti freeze in it and was full, so it didn't come from there (I assume). Pulled glow plugs added some oil to each cylinder and cranked it over for a while. Did this several times. While they were out, I hooked up the three glow plugs and the all turned red when energized. It was very very hard to start the first time. Smoked white like heck at start up, but ran rather well. Ran for 15 min.

Changed oil and filter again, while hot. No water. Started again and ran for awhile. Steam and water came out of the breather tube off the valve cover. After it warmed up well this stopped (residual rain water?)

Checked compression and all were in range. Front cylinder was 385 PSI and the other two were both 425 PSI. 385 is within 10% of the other two. So I assume it is ok. Hard to start as usual. While running I cracked each injector line and each made a difference.

Very hard to start even at 50F with glow plugs. 30 sec (at least) of cranking and it stumbles along like it is flooded and belches white smoke. When it catches it runs ok with no smoke. Have to use glow plugs to restart even when warm. Doesn't seem to have the power it should. Anyone have any suggestions on what to check next?

Thank
Jim

rlsmith · May 10, 2011

Have you changed fuel filters?
Checked fuel pump?
Checked battery?
Checked starter?
Not sure when you say hard starting. Like turns over hard. I am leaning toward battery or starter.
Cranks easy and steady and not catching then I am leaning toward fuel delivery problems. Fuel may have molded in tank, lines, filters, ejectors and fuel pump.

wmonroe · May 10, 2011

If you check out what rlsmith mentioned and dont find anything my next thought would be injection timing.

yooper jim · May 10, 2011

Cranks easy and steady.... so not the battery or starter. Should have mentioned, that pump, filters, lines and tank all new. Fuel is left over from winter with anti gel (two months old).

Injection timing? I need to do some homework.

leonz · May 10, 2011

About your symptoms and sick motor;

First I would check the valve clearances
with the engine cold for 48 hours and reset
them if needed.

I would remove the fuel lines from the injection
pump and squirt a bit of oil in the ports and crank
it by hand if you have the clearances with a
breaker bar for a few rotations and be sure to
remove the glow plugs beforehand.

White smoke is always a symptom of excess fuel or
incomplete combustion cycle.(you may have stuck
return spring in the injection pump or need piston rings).

As it is a reefer motor you may be looking at a set of
rings at the minimum due to the duty cycle of these motors.

the injection pump may be the isssue and the oil will help
lubricate it as it has been without oil for all those years.