white smoke in the morning

[Lovemytruck]

Hi Guys. Gotta a new one for me.
Just moved to a COLD climate...from sunny San Diego.

Last night it froze and when I started my truck...it started...but not with the usual 2 seconds of cranking. It took about 10 seconds...SLOW...

Then as I sat there waiting for her to warm....I saw WHITE smoke...not steam...smoke.

After about 10 minutes it cleared to normal....

I think it may have something to do with the fact that about 4 years ago....I disconnected the 2each 12gauge wires that bond to the battery. I was told that they serve as power for the fuel heaters and should not be pulling too much amperage....all day.

My wires had over heated...burned the fuses....and when I bond them directly to the positive lug...the warms get REALLY hot...but they don't fully melt.

So....all that to say....I think my fuel heaters are wacked....and now I need them...when in San diego...I didn't.

Any help in diagnosing those heaters.....and getting them to function correctly would be greatly appreciated.

280 K miles.
New injector pump...new injectors...runs GREAT. Club cab...automatic...
intercooler....1993.

Thanks
John

[ahale2772]

white smoke is fine thats just a cold engine but 10 seconds of cranking says fuel flow issues to me most healthy ve's start up when u even think of touching the key

[Jfriedlin]

Just by you an extension cord and plug the block heater in at night. Works like a charm and takes away the need for the intake heaters

[Lovemytruck]

Yeah...I thought about that...but i live in an apartment...so no possibility of using the engine warmer.

I think I have to get the intake heaters working....again....but are there any posts about this already?...the "how to" deal with intake heaters?

[Begle1]

There are intake air heaters and a fuel heater stock.

The intake air heaters are two blocks sitting in between the intake plate that mounts to the head and the intake horn from the turbo. They are fed by four or six gauge wiring from two big relays on the fender.

The fuel heater is a little thing that draws a considerable bit less amperage and mounts in between the head and the fuel filter.


I believe that the intake heaters are the only thing that would reduce smoke.

If the wiring to them burned up, it's probably a short on the positive wires leading to the grids. I wouldn't think that the grids themselves could fail in a way that would draw excess amperage through the wires.

Replace any burned wires, then check to see if the grids are getting voltage with a meter when you start it on a cold morning. If not, it's probably a problem with the control system, which consists of a sensor, the relays and the smart box on the firewall.

[PToombs]

Pull the air horn off and look at the grids. I've heard of them melting if the relays stick. Then check the relay to see if they are stuck on. There are places to buy replacements. They're listed on here someplace.

[dpuckett]

Also check your KSB- if it isnt doing its thing, white smoke will follow. Basically, unplug the wire from the little appendage at the lower part of the injector pump. If you notice a change in sound or smoke when you unplug it (have to do it cold), the KSB is working; if no change, it isnt.
If it isnt working, make sure there is power to it when cold.
If there is no power to it, it is most likely your intake sensor in the intake. I wired my KSB to a toggle switch and bypassed a $45 sensor.
Good luck, and welcome to 1stGen.

Dan

[Scotsman]

How much of a change in temperature are we talking here? Did you go up in altitude as well because that can have an effect on the fuel/air mixture.