The FL car (82 300D) smokes a lot. Big Time. Really.
When Tom leaves it to warm a bit in the mornings, by the time he leaves
the entire cul-de-sac is hazy from the smoke.
Smoke is grey/white.

Tom claims that it doesn't always smoke. The sometimes when he's in traffic
he doesn't see the smoke or when he's at a light he can't see it smoke.
I've told him that those times the wind is taking the smoke in a direction that
he can't see.

It smokes worst in 1&2 gear and less in say 4th.

I've also told him that a car that smokes this bad cannot magically stop smoking at a stop light. He thinks there may be an additive he can put in
the fuel tank that will make is stop smoking and pass inspection. Again, I tell him there is no such thing.

What drives me crazy is that this man tells me these things like he's actually Lance in disguise. Like he knows ANYTHING about cars (notice it's ME on this site and not him). Heck he's changed his oil once, in maybe the 80s, and won't ever do it again.

So, tell me about smoke. . .

Thanks!

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Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

Does the smoke smell sweet? If so he's probably got a blown head gasket. Check the overflow bottle and see how much coolant there is. If it is low then I'd suspect a head gasket.
If the smoke doesn't smell sweet his timing could off. I'd start with a valve adjustment, and timing chain check, and a diesel purge. Then see what happens.

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Actually , if the car smokes more after sitting a while...than when warmed up.... 99 percent chance it needs valve stem seals.... when started after a rest it has to burn off that oil that seeped between them...at some point of wear... when they get really bad the difference is not as great because they are allowing oil to be drawn by them even when warm... they are cheap except for the time involved... and can really really make a difference...

It's consuming either water or oil in the combustion chambers.

You'll need to determine which........then we can point you in the right direction.

Anything prior to the determination is a waste of time.