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Smoke Signals

Telltale Signs of How Well Your Diesel Engine is Performing

Observing the color of exhaust smoke of your diesel engine is on of simplest ways to tell how your engine is performing, and it can indicate serious conditions that may exist before damage can occur. A diesel engine's exhaust should be clear with the possible exception of sudden acceleration or extra loading or, idling or running under low loads for prolonged periods. Any other smoke or smoke condition is a sure sign of problems. The color of the smoke is a useful guide to help determine the source of the trouble.

The following chart is a guide to smoke color and a list of possible causes.

SMOKE COLOR AND ITS CAUSES

  • BLACK SMOKE  -   Restricted air flow  ( dirty / obstructed air filter; plugged exhaust; restrictions in exhaust system; defective turbo / supercharger); Overload; Improper injection (poor atomization, injector dribble, late injection)

  • BLUE SMOKE  -   Worn or stuck piston rings; worn valve guides and stems; high crankcase pressure; worn / supercharger oil seals.

  • WHITE SMOKE  -   Misfiring cylinders; water in fuel; air in fuel; water in cylinders (blown head gasket, cracked head or liner); lack of compression.

For Further Reading On The Maintenance And Repair Of   Diesel Engines We Highly Recommend That You Take A Look At For Further Reading On The Maintenance And Repair Of   Diesel Engines We Highly Recommend That You Take A Look At The Surveyor's Library.

Capt. Scott Thompson, AMS

© 1999 by Ocean Marine Services                                                   

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                                     This page was last modified on 02/14/01    

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