What color is the smoke on a cold start?

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

big white for 5-10 seconds... sounds like the exact same symptoms Diesel300 had with his. Ether replaced those delivery vavles seals or try and talk winmutt out of his dieselmiekin pump...

It could be the delivery valves or it could be glow plugs as well. It may be one glow plug or two on their way out causing a cylinder(s) to not heat up. Look at the delivery valves for wetness and also remove the big harness on the glow plug relay and check each cylinder (they're marked 1-6) and check OHMs. It should be .6 or .9ohms. Your black smoke is probably an injector stuck/dirty or worn nozzle with an improper spray pattern and lack of proper atomization. It's also worth checking the adjustment of the ALDA as well that controls fuel delivery based upon boost. Before doing that, it's $9.00 to run a diesel purge and it can do wonders to clean up injectors and your pump. Start with the basics.

__________________
Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k