Gradual worsening white exhaust smoke

[xmariner]

I think I read somewhere that white exhaust smoke can be caused by an injection pump that requires adjusting/timing.

When I purchased my Iseki, with a Mitsubishi K3C engine, 3 yrs ago I would get black smoke when a load was put on it. Then in the last year and half or so I'm getting white smoke all of the time, with or without a load. I haven't noticed a loss of power though it does idle rougher.

Is this indicative of an injection pump issue and can a diesel mechanic correct this without the shop manual ?

 

[westcliffe01]

I thought black smoke was excess fuel (or starved for air) and blue smoke was burning engine oil. True "white" smoke may be water vapor, is the coolant level dropping ?

So how is the oil consumption and have you had the compression checked ? Loss of compression usually is one of the causes of hard starting, along with bad glow plugs and cold temperatures.

 

[Chilly807]

Early injection will cause white/grey smoke, but that's unlikely. If injection timing slips, it will always ****** in my experience.

Water leakage into the intake system or in the cylinders will cause white smoke as well. Any chance the air filter has water in it?

Sean

 

[Rustyiron]

I thought black smoke was excess fuel (or starved for air) and blue smoke was burning engine oil. True "white" smoke may be water vapor, is the coolant level dropping ? So how is the oil consumption and have you had the compression checked ? Loss of compression usually is one of the causes of hard starting, along with bad glow plugs and cold temperatures.

Could be a head gasket or worse. Check coolant level and the dipstick for signs of water.

 

[rScotty]

I think I read somewhere that white exhaust smoke can be caused by an injection pump that requires adjusting/timing.

When I purchased my Iseki, with a Mitsubishi K3C engine, 3 yrs ago I would get black smoke when a load was put on it. Then in the last year and half or so I'm getting white smoke all of the time, with or without a load. I haven't noticed a loss of power though it does idle rougher.

Is this indicative of an injection pump issue and can a diesel mechanic correct this without the shop manual ?

What does it smell like? Antifreeze vapor is sweetish; a white exhaust fog that smells heavily of diesel is characteristic of an injector not spraying right. Often accompanied with a misfire or rough running...It could be injection pump....but check the injectors first.
good luck, rScotty

 

[xmariner]

Thanks for such prompt replies. I'll try to answer each, working backwards.

rScotty: the exhaust smells heavy of diesel - reminds me of days on tugboats with a following wind.

Rustyiron: Coolant level is fine and no water detectable in the oil. It's due for an oil change.

Chilly807: The air filter is dry - as a matter of fact I replaced the filter about 6 mos. ago

Westcliffe01: I haven't had the compression checked and oil comsumption is negligible. The tractor starts like it was brand new, now that I replaced the ignition switch. I've had to use the glow plugs only once or twice this fall and they work as they should.

At this point I'll start with the injectors then move on to the injector pump.
I'm hoping that it's not more serious, as parts for this engine are hard to come by if at all.

Thanks again - now to find a mechanic.

 

[rScotty]

the exhaust smells heavy of diesel - reminds me of days on tugboats with a following wind.
Thanks again - now to find a mechanic.

Then I'd suspect the injectors. Before going to the mechanic, you might simply try some injector cleaner. Be sure to get a cleaner that is specific for diesels. I don't know what is in the BG cleaner that we use, but the stuff is surprisingly expensive for a chemical in a can. As this is repair rather than prevention, don't be shy about using it full strength. At first I was concerned about using an unknown cleaner in today's plastic fuel tanks, but a few tests with pure cleaner on scraps of fuel tank material have convinced me that it is non-reactive there. So far I've never heard of injector cleaner damaging anything.

The mechanical - and better - way to do the same thing is to remove the injectors - about like removing a spark plug - and have the diesel shop clean them and adjust the spray pattern. Or simply put in new ones. Injectors aren't cheap, but are affordable. But try the cleaner first. Injector service is simpler than doing anything to the injector pump. Of course pump wear happens, but is pretty rare at low hours. Unless the pump has seen a lot of hours or some seriously dirty fuel then the pump itself is likely to be OK.
good luck, rScotty

 

[whodat526]

always check air filters first if stopped up they will make a tractor smoke something feirce

 

[deereman75]

To me white smoke sounds like a head gasket. If it is a head gasket, and it goes too long, you might warp the heads.

 

[xmariner]

rScotty: Thanks for the info. By the way this is a reconditioned tractor that was built between 1984 and 1986, so the injector pump and injectors may or may not have been serviced. I can see that the head was pulled and the tractor was split - so some parts were overhauled. We'll start with the cleaner.

deereman75: I cannot detect any leakage around the head so hopefully I can rule that out.

whodat526: The original air filter (3 yrs. old - 275 hrs.) is in great shape as I blow it out periodically with compressed air. I replaced it about 6 mos. ago. It didn't make a difference in the exhaust.