New MX5100 smokes/coughs on startup

[cmikewil]

Just took delivery of a new MX5100 this past week (thanks again to all who helped me to pick the tractor out). I'm having one curious issue which I thought I might ask opinions of here before calling my dealer back.

I park the tractor outside, under cover, on a slightly unleveled surface. I find that, when I start the tractor cold, it coughs a bit (like it's missing), and smokes for about 5-10 seconds. The smoke clears soon after, and it runs fine from this point on. I feel like there may be either excess fuel (or oil?) burning off. Again, this only happens after sitting 24 hours. I can shut it off for lunch, and after sitting an hour or so, it starts just like my old Massey Ferguson 231 - without a hitch.

I backed the tractor into it's parking spot this past evening, which leaves the exhaust a few inches higher (rather than a few lower) than the main engine block to see if it makes any difference.

To be clear, we aren't talking about parking on a steep slope, just an uneven bit of ground - which cannot be leveled in case you are curious. Do I call the dealer, or does somebody here have an idea?

 

[repete]

Are you using the glow plugs for cold starts? What color is the smoke?

 

[cmikewil]

Yep, using the glow plugs for 3-5 seconds. It's happened each of the 3 mornings I've started it, with the nights hitting mid 40s, and temps up to probably 55(?) by the time I started it. Smoke appears white.

 

[Peacock]

That's pretty normal for these EPA friendly diesels with the injection timing retarded. The white or gray smoke indicates cool combustion temperatures.

 

[4shorts]

Yep. Normal. Enjoy your tractor

 

[Code54]

I mostly heat my glow plugs for about 15-20 seconds and that seems to help a bit

 

[MHarryE]

Although your instrument panel is much different than mine, I assume it has a glow plug lamp. Turn the key to run until the light goes out, then start it. It should clear up more quickly although in colder temps it will still smoke and run a little rough for a bit. Mine is now in an unheated machine shed. It starts and runs even for a couple seconds, then runs rough as the glow plugs are cooled off by incoming air, then back to smooth running as it warms up. Nothing unusual. Indirect injection engines like Kubotas under 60 hp have a lot of combustion chamber surface area to heat up.

 

[Pharm]

Mine blows white smoke briefly on first start up of the day - no coughing though. I've not had to use the glow plugs yet. Smooth start every time so far.

 

[bucktaker]

Sounds Normal to me just like my L5740 Always a puff of smoke/stumble on first start more so the colder it is How does this tractor compare to the mf 231 you used before?

 

[JJZ 109]

When I had a B3030 I'd also glow it for a few seconds after the engine started. That would seem to take the roughness out of the initial start up.

 

[crazyangel]

Sounds like a cold start on my L5740. I have found that having the throttle set for 1500 rpm makes it start up the smoothest. Congrats on your new tractor!

 

[Buckgnarly]

My Kioti did the same thing since I got it new in June, and was quite hard to start the other cold morning. I checked the voltage at the glow plug ( light was coming on and relay was clicking, but that can mean nothing) and got nothing. Turns out the wiring harness was never hooked up when assembled! Starts with zero smoke and on first crank now.

 

[FatTire]

My Kioti did the same thing since I got it new in June, and was quite hard to start the other cold morning. I checked the voltage at the glow plug ( light was coming on and relay was clicking, but that can mean nothing) and got nothing. Turns out the wiring harness was never hooked up when assembled! Starts with zero smoke and on first crank now.

That's interesting. I assume the glow plugs should be 12V?

 

[cmikewil]

That's interesting. I assume the glow plugs should be 12V?

Well, it's a 12 volt starting system, so I'd assume that is the case.

 

[cmikewil]

Mine blows white smoke briefly on first start up of the day - no coughing though. I've not had to use the glow plugs yet. Smooth start every time so far.

I wouldn't say my smoking is brief, and "coughing" isn't brief either. It misses or coughs pretty severely for at least 5 seconds, and probably closer to 8 or 10.

 

[Ken45101]

This discussion has me thinking. My skid steer does exactly as described and in cold weather it can take 30 seconds to smooth out and stop smoking. It's done it since it was new. My son (who is a shop foreman at a different dealer) thought it was probably the injectors leaking while it is shut off and allowing fuel into the cylinder. I should have done something about it while it was under warranty but I procrastinated since it wasn't too bad in normal weather. Now I'm beginning to wonder if the glow plug isn't working correctly.

Ken

 

[Buckgnarly]

You know, I did not even bother to check after connecting. I think my 7.3 IDI is actually 6v for the glow plugs, though I could be wrong and thinking of some other diesel engine.

 

[Ken45101]

You know, I did not even bother to check after connecting. I think my 7.3 IDI is actually 6v for the glow plugs, though I could be wrong and thinking of some other diesel engine.

Unless you have two 6-volt ones connected in series, I don't know where you would get 6 volts to energize them.

Ken

 

[Buckgnarly]

Unless you have two 6-volt ones connected in series, I don't know where you would get 6 volts to energize them.

Ken

I think I may be thinking of people that run the lower voltage plugs in the 7.3, I think the IDI runs 12v to the glowplugs but again, not positive of that.

 

[cmikewil]

This discussion has me thinking. My skid steer does exactly as described and in cold weather it can take 30 seconds to smooth out and stop smoking. It's done it since it was new. My son (who is a shop foreman at a different dealer) thought it was probably the injectors leaking while it is shut off and allowing fuel into the cylinder. I should have done something about it while it was under warranty but I procrastinated since it wasn't too bad in normal weather. Now I'm beginning to wonder if the glow plug isn't working correctly.

Ken

Of course, reading the owners manual for the MX5100, it suggests not even bothering to use the glow plugs if the ambient temp is above approximately 40 degrees F. The instructions say to attempt a start without, and if the tractor fails to start, then hit the glow plugs for 10 seconds before hitting the starter again.

I will try advancing the throttle before starting to mid level. I've left it at a slow idle to start. Perhaps that will help.