| Author |
Message |
Henry 96A3 (Hank)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 1:56 pm: | |
I know this has been discussed ad nausium but....my bus produces a very faint amount of blue/grey (more grey) smoke at idle. It doesn't seem to matter if it's cold or warm. It doesn't blow any clouds of anything otherwise unless I try cold starting it when it's below 50. It has good power, 40wt CF-2, a newer air filter, brand new fuel filters and has good oil pressure. I just had the rack done and the valves adjusted. Is this just the nature of 2 stroke diesels or should the exhaust be invisible? I'm probably just being neurotic but this is my first bus and don't know what's normal in this regard. I've read over the archives and it seems that discussions center more around big clouds of smoke so that's why I'm asking.
Thanks!
Hank 96A3 |
Bob Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 2:50 pm: | |
It's nothing I'd worry about Hank..but you didn't mention what it's in or whether it's a 6 or an 8.
Does it smoke (black) when you pull a steep hill or mountain? How many miles on it to your knowledge?
If it pulls good...run it..watch the temp and just keep the lube oil up to proper level.
NCbob |
Henry 96A3 (Hank)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 3:40 pm: | |
Bob, it's a 6V-92 non DDEC. Supposedly the engine had an inframe about 50K ago. I doesn't smoke pulling hills...it'll put out a little black puff if I really stomp on the accelerator but I try to avoid doing that if at all possible.
Hank 96A3 |
Bob Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 6:30 pm: | |
Ah, it's computer controlled. I'll have to pass to the more learned among us...'cause I don't understand
'em.
NCbob |
Bob Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 6:32 pm: | |
Wow! Did I mis-read that one! Not DDEC controled.
Run it like you hate it...and you'll love it!
NCbob |
Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 9:31 pm: | |
If it was properly rebuilt 50,000 miles ago it shouldn't smoke at all at a warm idle, unless you have some bad diesel in it. And it may also be smoking while driving but you just can't see it. Do you use a lot of oil? |
Ed (Ednj)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:08 pm: | |
my bus produces a very faint amount of blue/grey (more grey) smoke at idle. It doesn't seem to matter if it's cold or warm. It doesn't blow any clouds of anything otherwise unless I try cold starting it when it's below 50.
„« >
„« >
„« If I only start my bus occasionally, and let it idle fast or slow.
It will not get up to temp, Diesels run most efficiently at approximately 200o
The downfall to this is that the engine -- when our engines are not under load --never begins to reach its optimal operating temperature.
As with all cooling system modifications, a water temperature gauge is a highly important tool in monitoring the system.
So the engine loads up and will smoke.
I suggest taking for a ride, like at least 100 miles and see if it clears.
Expect it to smoke like an old garbage truck, until it gets to optimum operating temp. |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:24 pm: | |
My 6V92TA doesn't get warmed up good until I hit the interstate which takes me 20 minutes to get to. No smoke as such just a little grey just after starting and I don't move until I get to 150 degrees anyway as it gives me time to run safety checks. ( exNJT MC9 ). Once under way I get a momentary puff to clear residue and after that not a speck of smoke.
It does leak about 2 ounces of oil per hundred miles from a small leak at highway speed but otherise. It doesn't even drip. I keep running back and looking to see if the label really says Detoit Diesel.. My other ones were rolling oil slicks looking for a place to happen. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:33 pm: | |
Hmmmm.....
"my bus produces a very faint amount of blue/grey (more grey) smoke at idle"
My uncle used to pass gas at the dinner table, I'd take your
bus anytime.
Seriously... Grey is moisture, probably collected in both the
filter, and the muffler...
Oh yeah, maybe some in the fuel, but it'd run crappy if that
were the case..
And yeah, someone may say a bad head gasket, or cracked
head or block... The doomers will make you PP in your pants!
But take it easy... If your bus is like mine, it sits and sits..
Run it for a bit, and it sits some more... And the condensation
builds up...It takes a long hot run or ten, to get the thing to
start coming alive and breathing right.
Hell, if it's only producing a "very faint amount
of blue/grey (more grey) smoke at idle"??
I'd grab a beer and call it a day. |
Greg Peterson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:54 pm: | |
“Run it like you hate it...and you'll love it!”
That sounds similar to a quote from another board that was from an old two-stroke truck driver.
He said before you drive the truck you should get really mad. Try slamming your hand in the truck door first. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 5:01 am: | |
a quote from another board that was from an old two-stroke truck driver.
Most of the "old truck drivers" were not Owner /Operators so never gave a damn about damage to the "Bosses" engine.
If you have loads of time , and enjoy doing lots of work , increase the governed rpm to fire truck specks and have at it.
For the rational folks the coaches ran fairly well from the factory , and would usually get to the 200,000 Hound PM overhaul with ease (HVAC excepted).
Private operators with could sometimes get to doubble that , with only a bit less reliability.
I'm sure a Hot Dog could destroy an engine before 200,000 if that's his vision of MY WAY.
FAST FRED |
Henry 96A3 (Hank)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 1:56 pm: | |
"If it was properly rebuilt 50,000 miles ago it shouldn't smoke at all at a warm idle, unless you have some bad diesel in it. And it may also be smoking while driving but you just can't see it. Do you use a lot of oil?"
Something that hadn't occured to me was that this tank has some diesel winter additive left in it. I realize in retrospect that adding this stuff probably wasn't necessary and probably just pollutes the fuel. I'm trying to run the tank down as much as I dare before I top it off.
When I drove it home from the east coast it used about 2 quarts for the 1000 mile trip. When I brought it to the diesel shop last week they said they fixed a leaky oil supply hose so hopefully the leakage situation will improve.
John, you're right. I should just relax. The thing really does run great. For some reason I'm in this perpetual state of fear that something's about to blow up or that I got hosed on this bus. You guys certainly help keep it real (now watch something WILL blow up!).
Hank 96A3 |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 8:37 pm: | |
"(now watch something WILL blow up!)"
Oh Jeez, there ya' go again..! It's bad karma, man.. youse
gotta' get into a good karma mood and have faith that things
will be good!
Even if some little thing, like a transmission, falls out in the
middle of the super-slab........ You have to believe that the
transmission falling out was in your best interest. Maybe it
saved you from arriving at a destination early, keeping you
safe from that volcanic eruption, or killer mud slide.
See? It's all for the best. Just fill the tank and not to worry!
EveRy tHiNgS gOiNg To bE OkAy!!! |
truthhunter@shaw.ca
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 1:13 am: | |
Now that is optimism at it's finest, I have to keep that "don't worry, just drive philosophy in in mind. |
Jarlaxle
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 11:30 pm: | |
Detroits seem to run best when pushed (unlike, say, an 855 Cummins, which LIKES to lug)...don't lug it, don't idle it. A Jimmy is happiest running on the governor. They're plenty tough...200K is nothing. |