OM617 Smokes when cold, clears up when hot

[JayKray]

Hi All,
Well, I completed a swap in my OM617 to 1993 Toyota 4x4 pickup two weeks ago and have been driving it a little bit here and there.
Initially I had quite a bit of liquid oil blowing out of the exhaust, but that has cleared up. I'm guessing that was the turbo oil seal that was gummed up and has freed.
I am still getting white/grey smoke until the motor fully warms up. This is billowing smoke when on the accelerator, and still quite a bit when at idle. Last night I let it idle for 20-30 minutes while giving it a good throttle blip every few minutes to check the smoke. After about 20 minutes or so of doing this the exhaust almost fully cleared.
I'm guessing this is dirty, gummed up injectors, but I will be running "diesel purge" directly into the fuel lines this weekend. However, I wanted to check with you guys to see if there is anything else I should do.

I already adjusted the valves.

Yes, I have searched here quite a bit, but did not see much about smoke clearing after fully up to temp.

After diesel purge, I will check timing chain stretch, but since it runs/idles/starts so good, I'm thinking that everything else is pretty good.

Thanks for your help,
Jay

[kerry]

Video of the quantity of smoke might be helpful. Could just be unburned fuel from a cold engine with low compression.

[Diesel911]

White Smoke is coolant or unburned unburned atomized Diesel Fuel.

When I had billows of white Smoke it was when the Fuel Injection Pump on My Volvo had really late timing as I had adjusted it wrong.

Of course compression can have hand in gray smoke. Sticky Piston Rings?

[JayKray]

Yeah, sticky rings are a possibility since it did sit for quite a while without being run, however the thing starts beautifully with minimal glow time and settles into a nice smooth idle within seconds.

Stuck rings could account for the oil I was initially blowing too, but I really don't get too much blue smoke after initial start.

[Zacharias]

Valve stem seals dried out from sitting?

As mentioned, you would have to post a video of the smoke (or even a still shot if it's THAT bad). I have seen a fair amount of smoke off the OM616 and 617 that I got going after they sat for extended periods, but it mostly cleared up after about an hour of idling on the OM617 (if my memory is working on this one). After being driven around for a few days, it only smoked on first startup and on very cold mornings.

Luckily there was a vacant lot next to my buddy's shop (which is in an industrial park anyway), and we were able to just park it there while it fumigated the surroundings....

[Phillytwotank]

Fairly typical situation I would say... As long as it's not excesive smoke.

[JayKray]

Yes, valve stem seals are definitely on my list. The previous owner told me that it always spit out some blueish smoke on first cold start. I'll be doing them soon.

I'll try to get some pics/video this weekend.

[eatont9999]

I get a haze when I start my engine cold. It's not fumigating anything but if I look closely, I see a slight haze. More so on cold mornings. It goes away once the engine gets warm. Even more noticeable on cold mornings with high concentrations of WMO.

[barry12345]

I would check for chain stretch and if acceptable check the injectiom pump timing. Should be done anyways on any unknown engine of this type.

Late injection could add to smoking as combustion is less efficient. Especially before operating temperatures are present. You also do not want to be driving around with a massivly stretched timing chain. This does not mean it is the fault itself causing your issue but you have to start somewhere. I assume your air filter is not totally shot as well.

[Beastie]

Really no one is asking for pics or video of his engine swap ?

[charmalu]

OK, I`ll ask, where is the write up on the swap??? Is there a link over to a Toyota Forum where you posted it???

Yeah timing could be an issue, you don`t really know what was done to the engine before your purchase. I do know timing can really make them smoke.

When I bought my Datsun Diesel (In Sig below) new from the dealer back in 81, it would smoke out the neighborhood when cold. thought it was normal as it was my first Diesel. clouds of bluish smoke. after it warmed up it would quit.

Don`t remember how long of time, miles etc... I reset the timing, and it all went away.

Now mine is gear driven (no chain) so my timing stays pretty much right on.

Your 617 eng chain might be worn enough to throw off the timing.
Dirty injectors,
stuck/worn rings.
valve guides/seals

and or a tired old engine with low compression.

adjust the valves and do a compression test, leak down test. air leaking out the exhaust pipe and it is your ex valves. leaking out the intake, then intake valves bad.

If the valves haven`t been adjusted in a long while, could be carbon built up in the seat and need to run the engine hard, and then do another several valve adjustments.

Charlie

[rscurtis]

Smell the exhaust when you have the symptom. If it burns your eyes, it's a fuel problem, possibly timing as others have mentioned. If it does not, it's either oil or coolant. I doubt it's the valve seals, as that should get worse as the engine warms up and the oil thins out.

[SD300]

if it runs normally after warm up then no worries, if not u need a new car.
if any emission will bother u then try tesla . leaf or the true plug in EV.

one time a dude as my dsl merc if it smokes at all? as he wanted to buy it from me.
he told me that he had many dsls.
i really dont know if thats a tricked or IQ test q.?
my car did passed our smog test so is within the limit.

[fireman1073]

my 94 s350 smoked blue pretty bad when i bought it

after driving it for a while and using kano labs kreen engine treatment no more smoke

Steve

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by rscurtis

Smell the exhaust when you have the symptom.

Finally, some good reason.

Why bother to conjecture about all the possibilities of white smoke in the exhaust until which specific liquid that is vaporizing is causing the white smoke?

Do those who randomly post solutions expect this poor fellow to simultaneously chase valve guides, oil rings, valve seals, turbo seals, head gasket, fuel injectors, and IP?

The responses are worthless without a definitive determination of which fluid is the culprit.