John Deere 3320 smokes blue on start-up

[jdjllee]

This new tractor with 80 hrs smokes blue for short period on start-up.
Then starts and runs fine all day. Next day starts and smokes blue. Smokes about 30 seconds. What gives? Tractor at dealer now. No verdict yet. Counter man said he thought it might be characteristic of Yanmar TNV88 diesel engine. I said NO SIR. Blue smoke= oil in chamber. Anybody seen same?

 

[Mech]

My JD 790 has always smoked on a cold start. Mostly white smoke. If I plug in the block heater it doesn't smoke. Is this something that just started happening since it has gotten cold? The 790 is a yanmar engine and Yanmar designed tractor.

 

[WH401]

Sounds like your on to cold starts now with it. As long as it's not smoking enough to fog out the area, then its just normal. If it were a problem with rings or the engine, it would smoke the whole time you used it. It's just doing its now because it's cold. My 3320 does the same thing on a cold start but only for about 5 seconds. All three of my diesel vehicles, a 92' and 06' Dodge and Ford Excursion, will do it on a real real cold morning, but only for the first few minutes their running.

 

[nmu98]

My 3720 does it also. Its not oil, but not fully combusted diesel. All my tractors do that except my IH404. Its a gasser

 

[jdjllee]

I'm in mid Georgia area. I grew up in New York State. To me, cold doesn't really exist down here in Georgia, LOL. I'd say this blue smoke has just started showing up in the last few weeks or so and it has gotten a bit colder here. I'd say the starts I'm talking about are mid morning in the 50's. I don't know. Black smoke, white smoke, grey smoke, I might not be concerned.
Blue smoke bothers me. I wanted to go on record with the dealer on this so
if it turns for the worse, I'm on file with them. We'll see what the dealer and JD rep say about it. I'll start taking notes and tracking it for oil consumption. Anyone know what normal oil consumption to expect? On a side note, I own a 1990 JD 322 lawn and garden tractor with a Yanmar gas (3 cylinder, water cooled) engine. 700 hrs on it and it never smokes blue, cold or not. It does not use oil to speak of. It's a similar design. I think Yanmar made both diesel and gas versions of this.

 

[nmu98]

I'm in mid Georgia area. I grew up in New York State. To me, cold doesn't really exist down here in Georgia, LOL. I'd say this blue smoke has just started showing up in the last few weeks or so and it has gotten a bit colder here. I'd say the starts I'm talking about are mid morning in the 50's. I don't know. Black smoke, white smoke, grey smoke, I might not be concerned.
Blue smoke bothers me. I wanted to go on record with the dealer on this so
if it turns for the worse, I'm on file with them. We'll see what the dealer and JD rep say about it. I'll start taking notes and tracking it for oil consumption. Anyone know what normal oil consumption to expect? On a side note, I own a 1990 JD 322 lawn and garden tractor with a Yanmar gas (3 cylinder, water cooled) engine. 700 hrs on it and it never smokes blue, cold or not. It does not use oil to speak of. It's a similar design. I think Yanmar made both diesel and gas versions of this.

You cannot compare your gas engine to your diesel. Diesel does not combest well on a cold started motor. Cold could be 60 degrees. Diesels have glow plugs or heaters to help them start. You are getting blue smoke from the unburt diesel due to the lack of combustion temp.... Normal.

 

[tomd999]

Hiya,

Oh man, no wonder all my Diesels smoke, there's fuel oil in the combustion chambers....... OK all kidding aside, It's engine temperature.

All Diesels depend on heat from the compression stroke to provide heat to burn the fuel as it's injected into the combustion chamber. When the engine is first started, all the components, (Piston, head, block, intake, etc.) are the same temp as the surrounding air. as the piston begins to compression stroke, the air is compressed and begins to heat, however, the cold components act as heat sinks chilling the air, when the fuel is injected, the now chilled air does not provide enough heat to fully combust the fuel. What burns is the "light" parts of the fuel, leaving the "heavier" oilier parts partially burnt. These heavier parts of the fuel cause the smoke your seeing. You will notice along with the smoke is a strong "smoking candle" smell, this is caused by paraffin contained in the fuel that is partially burnt because of lack of heat.

What you can do to reduce this smoking is either use a block heater to warm the engine before you start it. (easier on the tractor, not on your electric bill) or buy a cetain booster additive. The higher the cetain # or the fuel, the easier and smoother it combusts and with that, less smoke on start up and more BTU's released in the combustion chamber and not going out the exhaust pipe as either soot or unburnt fuel.

Now, another thing to keep in mind is that not all the unburnt fuel is going out the exhaust, some is getting blown past the rings. Engines no matter what make, fuel or vintage, have the most blow-by when they are cold. This blow-by contains various stuff that you really don't want swimming in your engine oil. So, what I have seen as the recommendations to minimize this is to lightly load the engine 30-60 seconds after startup to try to heat the cylinders quicker than just letting it idle for 5 minutes. That being said, running the engine with a small bit of throttle while driving out of the barn easily is better for you and the tractor as it gets up to operating temp quicker.

OK, as always, my 2 cents,

Tom

 

[kennyd]

jdjllee, is this the first diesel engine you have owned?

 

[abrannan19]

yep...as said above..

blue smoke is raw diesel..nothing to worry about.

 

[nate_m]

Hiya,

Oh man, no wonder all my Diesels smoke, there's fuel oil in the combustion chambers....... OK all kidding aside, It's engine temperature.

All Diesels depend on heat from the compression stroke to provide heat to burn the fuel as it's injected into the combustion chamber. When the engine is first started, all the components, (Piston, head, block, intake, etc.) are the same temp as the surrounding air. as the piston begins to compression stroke, the air is compressed and begins to heat, however, the cold components act as heat sinks chilling the air, when the fuel is injected, the now chilled air does not provide enough heat to fully combust the fuel. What burns is the "light" parts of the fuel, leaving the "heavier" oilier parts partially burnt. These heavier parts of the fuel cause the smoke your seeing. You will notice along with the smoke is a strong "smoking candle" smell, this is caused by paraffin contained in the fuel that is partially burnt because of lack of heat.

What you can do to reduce this smoking is either use a block heater to warm the engine before you start it. (easier on the tractor, not on your electric bill) or buy a cetain booster additive. The higher the cetain # or the fuel, the easier and smoother it combusts and with that, less smoke on start up and more BTU's released in the combustion chamber and not going out the exhaust pipe as either soot or unburnt fuel.

Now, another thing to keep in mind is that not all the unburnt fuel is going out the exhaust, some is getting blown past the rings. Engines no matter what make, fuel or vintage, have the most blow-by when they are cold. This blow-by contains various stuff that you really don't want swimming in your engine oil. So, what I have seen as the recommendations to minimize this is to lightly load the engine 30-60 seconds after startup to try to heat the cylinders quicker than just letting it idle for 5 minutes. That being said, running the engine with a small bit of throttle while driving out of the barn easily is better for you and the tractor as it gets up to operating temp quicker.

OK, as always, my 2 cents,

Tom

Very well said, Tom.

Thanks for taking the time to give some schoolin.

 

[Nuru]

Ditto on the thanks for the training Tom.

 

[B8FISH]

Tom--my thanks as well. I've noticed the same thing since day on my 3320.

 

[DrZaius7]

Hello Gents, this is my first winter with my 3320 (it only have 11 hours on it) and I get the same blue smoke for a few seconds at start up.

My secondary concern is that it takes probably a good 4-5 seconds for the engine to turnover on a cold start. Is that normal?

The Owner's Manual says to push in the key for 10-15 seconds before starting to help warm up. I have tried that and it doesn't seem to help. Do they really mean to push in the key or to turn it just so the battery kicks on?

Thanks

 

[9973720wb19]

Hello Gents, this is my first winter with my 3320 (it only have 11 hours on it) and I get the same blue smoke for a few seconds at start up.

My secondary concern is that it takes probably a good 4-5 seconds for the engine to turnover on a cold start. Is that normal?

The Owner's Manual says to push in the key for 10-15 seconds before starting to help warm up. I have tried that and it doesn't seem to help. Do they really mean to push in the key or to turn it just so the battery kicks on?

Thanks

here's what i do.:
1) turn the key to the first knoch - and let go of the key - allowing the dash lights to come on and wake up.
2) from that key position - push the key stright in - for 15secs. and release
3) turn to next knoch to start.
My old 3720 started very fast. I have a brand new 4720 that did/does not start as fast, but seems to start quicker each time. I don't know if it's changing or I'm getting use to it.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

here's what i do.:
1) turn the key to the first notch - and let go of the key - allowing the dash lights to come on and wake up.
2) from that key position - push the key stright in - for 15secs. and release
3) turn to next notch to start.
My old 3720 started very fast. I have a brand new 4720 that did/does not start as fast, but seems to start quicker each time. I don't know if it's changing or I'm getting use to it.

In addition to this, try letting the engine idle a minute or two at slowest speed before shutdown. Start the engine with throttle at idle setting.

 

[beenthere]

............ Do they really mean to push in the key or to turn it just so the battery kicks on?

Thanks

They really mean it. Switch to on, and push IN so you see the light on the dash. Count to 10, and then turn to start. Much much better when there is warm air sucked in to fire it off, and keep the blue smoke to a minimum.

 

[DrZaius7]

Perfect, thanks.
The manual didn't say to turn the key to the first notch then push in. I will give it a go.

 

[RalphVa]

I get a pretty good cloud of blue smoke from my 4010, particularly now starting it in the cold. I glow it for 6 seconds, and it fires instantly. HAVE ALWAYS had the blue smoke on startup, a little bit in summer & big cloud in winter.

First diesel (3rd diesel car) to not do this is our 2010 VW Jetta TDI. No smoke, no diesel clatter, just lots of torque from a fine diesel engine.

Ralph

 

[jdjllee]

OK, so I was in a panic when I posted this original thread back in 2008 as a new owner of a new tractor. You guys schooled me good and quick. My dealer was pretty forgiving too. I appreciate that. You know, I guess my tractor still smokes on a cold start-up but I don''t really notice it anymore. I had 300 hrs logged last I checked.