3406b smoke and a minor clatter

I had what sounded like a valve tap about a year ago. It wasn't loud so I put off adjustment. After a few months the tapping stopped on its own. That made me wonder. Valves that are out of adjustment don't adjust themselves. Outside of the possibility that somebody popped my hood and ran the rack while I was sleeping, as a nice present, I can't envision any way that the noise would stop without me getting wrenches.

Recently the noise started again, but louder, sounding more like a minor clatter. Also, I noticed an intermittent miss. Then the clatter stopped, the second time the noise disappeared on its own. ????? Valve noise doesn't go away by itself, does it? In all my years I've never heard of this happening.

That's when I started to suspect the injector. Also, I now have an intermittent smoke problem. When I put the pedal to the metal, there is a long plume of dark gray smoke coming from the stack. Then, the next time I get on it hard, no smoke! What gives?

This must be an injector problem, no? Could an injector be intermittently sticking or jamming up or something?

I'd like to know if somebody here has had a similar experience before I pull the truck off the road and dig out the wrenches.

 

Thanks, wore out, for the reply.

Man, that sounds like a lot of work, pulling the injector pump off the truck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's going to be an easier fix than that.

What about the tapping noise that comes and goes on its own? That sound is definitely coming from inside the front valve cover.

 

Thanks, AModel, yeah that sounds like my engine, smoke when I first tromp on it but it cleans up.

No, this long plume of smoke trailing behind is something new, and it follows on the intermittent tapping and then clanging that comes from inside the front valve cover, and according the stethoscope, right at the number 3 position.

 

Thanks. That's good to know. I can do that.

Can a malfunctioning injector cause smoke?

 

Thanks, baha. Will a way loose intake valve be silent, or will it make some kind of sound?