White smoke during regeneration? - Diesel Forum

WNYPS · 11-23-2007, 08:05 PM

I bought 08'f350 s/c on oct.18 and currently have 1200miles on it.I drive 8 miles each way to work, but the last two weeks white smoke has been bellowing out of the tail pipe at the exact place during my ride in too work.The heavy white smoke last 4-5 seconds then lightens up a bit(20 seconds) then heavy white again for 2-3 seconds.Light smoke continues for 2 miles til i pull into my parking lot at work and then i let it idle fo 5 minutes(very little smoke but sounds like a hair dier and elevated idle 1100rpms)shut it off to go to work.I counted 5 times that this regeneration has happened(once on my way home from work and once hauling a 24' trailer doing 65mph. I took it to the dealership and they said everything looks good.The tech said it could be my fuel(winter fuel)and to try a different fuel station and i told him this is my 3 different fuel station ive been too.He also told me he had a job 1 truck in a couple months ago that did the samething he reflashed the computer and no more heavy with smoke to this date,but there is no current updates for my truck(job 2)at this point.I dont hammer on my truck but the tech said get on it every so often and i have. If it matters at all the temps.are mid 20's to low 30's in the morning and i let it warm up for about 5 minutes.Any help would be appreciated .Thanks

Stalwart · 11-23-2007, 09:25 PM

The smoke is fuel going into the cat before it is up to temp. One of these days you'll need to let the truck finish regenerating it's DPF. You need to keep driving it until the regen is finished or let it finish at the elevated idle rpm. If you don't let it finish, you'll get a plugged DPF and your mileage will REALLY start to suffer followed by a check engine light.

jss304 · 11-23-2007, 09:29 PM

There was actually a post about this a while back. Mine does it every time it goes into a regen now that it's getting colder out. As long as it only does it when the truck is in a regen I wouldn't worry much. Some guys pay extra to have fuel plates or boxes installed that cause their trucks to smoke, ours have that feature stock! Besides I love watching the people back off my rear whenever the truck smokes...puts a smile on my face every time.
-Jason

WNYPS · 11-23-2007, 09:36 PM

I finally let it finish a full generation today at idle when i got home.I perfer to have the heavy dark smoke like my old duramax.Thanks so far for the replies.

outlawinil · 11-26-2007, 05:25 PM

Do you have any other reason to own a diesel truck other than the 8 miles back & forth to work, like hauling something, driving farther, towing a trailer?

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to drive it like you stole it

LittleBigRig · 11-26-2007, 05:46 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: outlawinil</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you have any other reason to own a diesel truck other than the 8 miles back & forth to work, like hauling something, driving farther, towing a trailer? </div></div>

How could this possibly have any purpose other than a poke in the eye? The answer is YES, if you would have taken the time to read the entire post.

Sometimes I only drive my truck 3 miles to the corner store...maybe I should hook up the gooseneck next time I run to get a loaf of bread.

All of these snide comments and peoples tendency to quickly pass judgement is really starting to drag this great resource down.

Bet those factory 20" rims in your sig really help your towing ability.

ProPain_AZ · 11-26-2007, 05:50 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: outlawinil</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you have any other reason to own a diesel truck other than the 8 miles back & forth to work, like hauling something, driving farther, towing a trailer?

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to drive it like you stole it</div></div>

Who cares why he owns a diesel...he can so he does....jeez

LittleBigRig · 11-26-2007, 05:58 PM

WNYPS: Sounds normal. Don't think it ever got a chance to complete a regen during the trips to work and back. Some white smoke is normal.

outlawinil · 11-26-2007, 06:19 PM

Easy boys...all I'm saying is he's on pace to put on 12500 per year with some very light driving where the engine barely gets up to operating temp before shut downs. White smoke is a sign of water vapor or fuel that has been atomized but not burned. His truck is trying to complete a regen process in which the 15 minute run time to or from work will not be enough to let it burn completely out. He's gonna have to find some reason to drive it a little farther every now and then just like Stalwart says

WNYPS · 11-26-2007, 06:56 PM

I do own my own business(blacktop sealing)but is seasonal here in buffalo .But i also have a full time job from 7 to 5 pm so i decided to buy a new truck and break it in during the off season.I do alot off heavy towing during the spring summer and fall,so the question do i need one"YES" DO I WANT ONE "YES" so back off or ill throw a snowball at you.

dieselwhisperer · 11-26-2007, 08:46 PM

I'm beginning to think the white/blue smoke is something other than a regen on mine. I've got 12,300 miles now and maybe 3 times in the last couple of weeks I've had a couple of weird things happen. A couple of weeks ago I picked up my sister at the airport. I hit the W.Va. Turnpike (I77 south), set the cruise on about 70 mph. I cruised for about 20 miles or so and had to stop and pay a toll. Paid the man, gunned it and it started smoking white really heavy, also felt like it was missing. Let off and gunned it again and it quit and felt normal. The same thing happened again today but this time sitting at a traffic light (a long one) and when I took off it did it again! I hate to do it, but I guess I will take it in to my dealer.

outlawinil · 11-26-2007, 09:32 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LittleBigRig</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Bet those factory 20" rims in your sig really help your towing ability. </div></div>

Actually the 20" tire and rim combo works flawlessly pulling my 33' triple axle Baja around those over 70 mph curves heading to the Lake of the Ozarks. My last truck (2004 F250 CC shortbed with 265/75R/16E) was a nightmare, too much sidewall flexing. Add that to the extra 335lbs per tire carrying capacity the 20's have over the 16's, I'd say it was a great decision. The 20's don't even look like they need more air when I haul my two John Deere show tractors on my gooseneck trailer. Thanks for asking by the way

ragnouomo · 11-26-2007, 11:52 PM

I too have noticed this white smoking during regen since it has gotten colder. I've seen it twice in the last month. Both times, it has been in regen and it happens when I am accelerating up the on ramp to get on the highway. I haven't noticed it any other time. Once I get up to speed and let out of it, the smoking stops and all is good.

LENSPSTROKE · 11-27-2007, 10:27 AM

Mine did the same thing i was going down the interstate with the cruise set at 70 for about 80 miles and when i got off the exit and then took off white smoke was terrible and also felt like the truck was missing. This has only happened once i have 3300 miles on mine getting average of 11.4 mixed driving

dieselwhisperer · 11-27-2007, 11:56 AM

I just called my dealer and spoke to the service guy and told him about the white smoke thing, he said he'd never heard of anything like that, of course he's the one that told me "it's a diesel, it's supposed to smoke" a few months back. I also told him that I had put a set of 07 5-spoke aluminum 20" inch wheels on it and that I needed my speedo adjusted. I told him that I was 3 or 4 mph off. He said that that was within Ford specs and they couldn't get it any closer than that. I think I'm going to try and find another Ford dealership.