heavy smoking cummins

Discussion in 'Diesel Engines' started by bertho, Sep 6, 2006.

  1. bilgeboy
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    bilgeboy Senior Member

    Great conversation, gentlemen.

    I'm glad my amatuer diesel enthusiast opinion agrees with the pro's.

    Why does a cool engine blow white smoke? As I understand this, its at least in part because the compression of the cool gasses does not support combustion efficiently, so the injector is spraying atomized diesel ( white smoke ) into a cool environment, and this uncombusted diesel blows out the exhaust.

    People are getting PhD's trying to really understand the complexities of the compression stroke on diesel engines, and what happens during the propogation of the combustion front when the diesel is injected. Its really quite complex, so I just want to say, again, that I'm glad there are folks here that like to discuss this stuff. Diesels are beautiful in their simplicity, but when you start asking questions like Jack is, you can see that its tougher than it initially appears.

    Watching this thread with great appreciation and enthusiasm.

    Mike
     
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  2. ducknuts
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    ducknuts Junior Member

    The condensation might be from the exhaust system not the cylinders. I don't know what a kell cooler is, but if he's running a closed system and not losing water then the only other thing that would cause white smoke is low compression (forgot about this earlier). Sometimes it will go away after running a while, other times it will continue to smoke.
     
  3. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

     
  4. ducknuts
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    ducknuts Junior Member

    I talked to a friend of mine and he said the white smoke is water in the cylinder, most likely a head gasket. If it is light gray smoke it would be cold engine or low compression both resulting in the combustion chamber not reaching a high enough temp to fully combust the fuel and therefore emitting the unburnt fuel and air mixture as a light gray smoke. The size of the cooling system was never stated or if it had a thermostat that was known to be working correctly so the engine can warm up faster before it gets the full capacity from the cooler opened up to it by the thermostat, a larger cooler will take longer to heat up so the engine will run cold longer. After 30 minutes of idling it should be to atleast 140F, could check with an infared thermometer to be sure that it is only smoking when it's cold. Also, he said he's seen turbo inlet restrictions cause the same smoke but he wasn't sure why they did. Excessive pressure in the crankcase could do it, again not sure why. One other thing was possibly a computer problem, if it has a computer, have a technician scan the computer for any codes. The compression may be low enough to smoke but not enough to be noticably hard starting, and the compression leak may also seal up after the engine warms up and all the metal parts expand. They need to have a mechanic look at it because all we can do here is guess at the problem and I have a feeling with every post we get farther from it.
     
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  5. bertho
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    bertho bertho

    hi guy,
    I'm feel confident this engine is fine, what let me wondering is the difference between different type of engine regarding this phenomene, i saw many MTU or hight speed mitsubishi doing this heavy white smoke during ""pre-heating"" time, i don't thing we have such difference on the pressure inside combustion chamber when cold and hot, but some particular model, the ration air/fuel injected probably higher and can be partialy burn when temp is too low, as everybody know diesel like to be very hot to burn quickly and completly the mix.
    but this engine, QSK19 cummins, 660hp at 1850 rpm don't look for me as "hight performance'' engine...?!? perhaps this model have special ration fuel/air ?? more sensible at full combustion?
    anyway, when the temp is reach, it's look running well ! and stop completly smoking..
    cheers doc(s)

    doctor(s) , did you agreed?
     
  6. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Air in the fuel can cause many problems , smoke or low power.

    My sugestion is to install an "Armored Sight Glass" in the fuel intake line.
    These are readily avilable at any large refrigerstion sypply and have a male and female end , so are really easy to install.
    The "armored" bit means there is a metal cover that can rotate and cover the glass,should ypu leave it installed.

    In refrigeration service the sight glass may see a near perfect vacume to about 200psi, depending where in the system it's mounted.

    In a diesel supply line any bubbles are easily visable , if there is any problem.

    Probably one of the better $15.00 investments you can make.

    Works for me,

    FAST FRED
     
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  7. ducknuts
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    ducknuts Junior Member

    If everything's fine after it warms up, just deal with smoke knowing it will go away. Thanks for making me use my brain!
     
  8. bertho
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    bertho bertho

    duck,
    is not so ""friendly environmental"" to create a fog in the whole marina or mooring when we left... fire brigade called for action and so and so..
    even if the engine is running fine!
     
  9. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    bertho,- where are you Boat lagoon or Yacht Haven
     
  10. bertho
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    bertho bertho

    it,s a boat belong a friend, converted fishing boat name Geisha in yacht haven.. my boat is also there, 66' gaff rig corto M.. and you ?
    rgds
     
  11. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Royal Langkawi Yacht club
     
  12. bertho
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    bertho bertho

    jack, Hi ! how is wave-diseaster sinking ? will come to drop my anchor the mud in kua end october..keep in touch on my email ..
     
  13. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    I dont go past Wave Disasters much,--some times on the motor bike. You know it wouldnt surprise me if I hadnt seen you before, your boat name sounds familiar. I used to be at Yacht haven untill they got full and could no longer accomodate a catamaran. Nick keeps saying come back but,-- Naaa fuel is cheaper here, and the cost of living is only 300 ringet a case.

    Oh not to mention the new very silly Thai immigration laws brought out this week. Only 3 consecutive non visa visits allowed to Thailand now, wow that will clear Yacht Haven.

    Stupid Thais,-- Cant understand afluence, or retired, If you live there without a job you MUST be an illegal worker.
     
  14. bertho
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    bertho bertho

    jack,
    my boat is a gaff rig topsail schoner 22 meter, not so many in this area.. i was working after the tsunami in wavemaster for few month, to repair some boat and to see the possibility to take over the management of this place, but ownership of this yard was ........! , need to wait, nothing to do untill total implosion and crash.. it's a pity, the facility can be great, but need anyway to re-start from scratch..agree about thai..but food is much better ! and cheap case can be ''imported''!!
     

  15. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Yeah food is better ,--- I really miss Chang beer too.
     
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