e350 Van: White Smoke, Fuel Line Leak, Injector? - Diesel Forum

xeridad · 10-31-2009, 03:25 PM

Hi. I just bought a replacement van (my truck was stolen)--a 91 E350 non-turbo van. It runs well, but I've been getting a strong diesel smell and some white smoke on acceleration. Acceleration, power, smoothness all seem fine.

Suspecting it was an injector, I pulled the cover and ran the engine and found that one injector was wet. On further inspection, I found that the short line between the injectors was leaking on to the injector. Also, the line from the brass elbow on the IP to the row of injectors is seeping and wet. Finally, I swear there's a new tick, tick, tick, tick, noise in addition to the usual engine clatter.

I'm planning to replace the fuel lines first. But what about the injector? Bad? Or wait and see? Also, when I crank it back up after the lines are replaced, what should I do about all the air in the system? I've read about a Shrader valve, but I'm not sure where it is on my van.

Thanks.

Evel486 · 10-31-2009, 03:36 PM

Get a return line kit. It has the hose, caps & o-rings. Replace these first before you suspect an injector. As these are on the return side, you should not get air into the system. If you do, leave one or two high pressure lines cracked loose at the injectors. Crank the engine over for short intervals until you have fuel at the injectors. The schraeder valve is on the fuel filter head.

xeridad · 10-31-2009, 03:47 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. Is that a Ford kit? Or can I get it an auto parts store. Thanks.

Evel486 · 10-31-2009, 04:32 PM

Auto parts. Ford is usually 3X the price.

Snotzalot · 10-31-2009, 08:26 PM

Several of the site sponsors sell good kits cheap, usually 1/2 of the local parts store. White smoke may indicate a IP that's retarded. Was the IP replaced before you purchased it?

xeridad · 11-01-2009, 12:45 AM

I'm not sure about the IP. When I bought it, the dealer said that they replaced "something" related to fuel pumping, but not being familiar with diesels, he didn't know if it was a lift pump or the injection pump. He said it was just "dumping fuel" whatever it was. I'll follow up with him on Monday and talk with the shop where he had the repair done.

Regarding the smoke, I drove it quite a bit before I bought it, and didn't notice any white smoking. There was a strong diesel smell, though, and I figured it was left over from the repair they did. A few days after I bought it, we had a cold snap (in the 30s) and I noticed the smoke. It didn't seem to go away, even when the engine was up to temp (though I only drove about 5 miles, so "up to temp" might be exaggerating a bit.)

Today, it was in the 60s, and I got a quite a bit of white smoke at idle after starting, but I didn't drive anywhere (the van also had been sitting a day). Still a strong diesel smell, which now I attribute to the seeping lines and either the return hose or the injector.

I thought it was the injector because of the sudden appearance of white smoke and the new tick, tickey, tick, tick sound (which I figured was the sound of the bad injector).

Could leaks in the return hoses cause the smoke? Could they cause a pump to go bad? As far as the IP timing being retarded, the accelerator is VERY responsive (I can't really rest my foot on the pedal without depressing it--unlike my truck which I had to work at to push down). Would a retarded pump be that responsive and give such good acceleration, our would the van run bad?

Finally, what is the name of the kit I should by. I called my local Oriely's (formerly Checkers) and they said they didn't have anything like a fuel return like kit, just bulk hose.

Snotzalot · 11-01-2009, 07:16 AM

"Injector installation kit" usually gets their attention at the parts store but you are better ordering from a site sponsor. Make sure you order by correct year since there are two kits that will work, buy only one is correct for your vehicle.

White smoke at start up that goes away when warn could mean your cold start advance isn't working. White smoke generally means retarded timing.

Your need for return lines, caps and orings is a normal maintenance requirement and should be addressed before you do any other repairs. If a local shop suggests you need a new IP, walk away.

Since you are working on a van, I suggest removal of the alternator and fuel filter will make installation easier. Also, since you will have every thing apart, it's probably a good idea to replace the glow plugs. I also suggest a new TPS (Throttle Position Switch) at this time since every thing is apart!