Cause
• Cold engine
• No Intake Air Heater (IAH) operation
• Poor quality fuel
• EGR stuck open on startup
• EGR cooler leaking coolant into exhaust
• Loose or failed injector
• Bent connecting rods
• Worn piston rings
• Low compression
• Coolant leaking into the intake manifold through the cylinder head cup plugs
• Coolant leaking into combustion chamber
• Aerated fuel
Procedure
1. In cold ambient temperatures, some white smoke is normal until the engine is up to operating temperature.
• Ensure that engine is up to operating temperature 88 °C (190 °F) prior to verifying a white smoke complaint.
• If the engine is unable to obtain operating temperature during a road test, verify thermostat opening temperature 88 °C (190 °F).
2. Do Test 15 (Inlet Air Heater System) on Hard Start and No Start Diagnostics form to verify inlet air heater operation.
3. Do Test 5 (Fuel) on Performance Diagnostics form. Verify quality and quantity of diesel fuel.
Poor quality fuel or low cetane rating can cause white smoking, engine misfire and low power.
See Engine Operation and Maintenance Manual, Fuel Requirements section for model and year of engine to determine minimum necessary fuel grade and cetane rating.
4. Do Test 6 (Fuel Pressure and Aerated Fuel) on Performance Diagnostics form to verify aerated fuel.
5. Do Test 11 (Injector Disable) and Test 12 (Relative Compression) on Performance Diagnostics form to identify failed injector or weak power cylinder.
6. Do Test 16 (Crankcase Pressure) to measure condition of power cylinders.
7. If there is coolant loss without engine overheating, check for coolant in exhaust.
• If coolant is leaking from exhaust or can be smelled in the exhaust, go to “Coolant Leak to Exhaust” (page 117) in this section.
8. If engine has fuel knock or evidence of fuel in exhaust, remove exhaust manifolds and inspect for fuel in the exhaust ports. (Suspect loose injectors, missing or damaged O-ring and copper gasket on bottom of injector).
9. Inspect air induction system for evidence of water ingestion or evidence of unfiltered air entering the engine.
• Water ingestion could have caused a hydraulic lock and bent connecting rods. If water ingestion is suspected, identify smoking cylinders by removing exhaust manifolds and running engine.
• Unfiltered air entering the engine can cause excessive power cylinder wear and turbocharger compressor blade damage. If power cylinder wear is suspected, identify smoking cylinder(s) by removing exhaust
manifolds and running engine.
• If coolant is found in the intake manifold, check cylinder head cup plugs and intake manifold. Go to “Coolant Leak to Exhaust” (page 117) in this section.
10. If engine is overheating with coolant loss, and cylinder head gasket or injector sleeve is
suspected for leaking, go to “Combustion Leaks to Coolant” (page 102) in this section.
