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3406E Sputtering and Smoking After Startup

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by gregrob, Oct 11, 2011.

  1. Oct 11, 2011 #1
    gregrob

    gregrob Bobtail Member

    11
    1
    Sep 28, 2010
    Cheyenne, WY
    0
    Hello guys,

    I have a 97 3406E Cat in a Volvo. It's a 5EK engine.

    Recently it has started sputtering and smoking after cold startup. I think it is because of the recent temp change because it does not do it when the engine is warm, or when the temps are above 60 degrees out side.

    It has been mid 40s here and after sitting and firing it up, it will run smooth for a second, then start missing and dumping white smoke.

    Sometimes it sounds like it's going to sputter all the way out and die, then it "catches" and starts idling a little smoother but still with a slight miss.

    After it warms up for a bit longer (minute or two max) it picks up the last cylinder that was missing and idles smooth. No smoke, etc.

    It is not eating coolant, I just went on a 4,000 mi trip and it didn't use any save the tiny bit it leaks and I haven't got around to fixing.

    Oil is normal level and does not smell of diesel.

    I'm thinking possible cam sensor, or injector O rings leaking and getting raw fuel in the cylinder??

    It produces quite a bit of white smoke but it is raw fuel you can tell by the smell. Not coolant.

    Thanks for any help.

    The injectors were just resealed and the O/H ran about 8 months ago.
     
    gregrob, Oct 11, 2011
    gregrob, Oct 11, 2011
    #1
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  3. Oct 11, 2011 #2
    Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

    12,209
    100,730
    Jan 30, 2010
    keep stroking.
    0
    sounds like an injector, have a engine cutout test done to isolate it. but the real problem is the kitty is spiting and sputtering because it is sitting in a volvo. cat in a volvo that is rare.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2011
    Superhauler, Oct 11, 2011
    Superhauler, Oct 11, 2011
    #2
  4. Oct 11, 2011 #3
    Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

    2,914
    1,652
    May 16, 2009
    Couch
    0
    hmmmm, headgasket? Cleans up warm because the warm cylinder makes up for lower compression in one hole. Although you said it starts smooth then starts to miss. I had 2 with bad headgaskets this year and they would smoke white (raw fuel) until they warmed up. I would hope for a bad injector.
     
    Jfaulk99, Oct 11, 2011
    Jfaulk99, Oct 11, 2011
    #3
  5. Oct 12, 2011 #4
    brenes-built

    brenes-built Light Load Member

    157
    15
    Apr 14, 2011
    Vancouver, Wa
    0
    Yeah I would hope for a bad injector, but it cleaning up after it runs a bit makes it lean towards a weak cylinder... It could be that it's just burning off the excess fuel in the cylinder.. Sometimes the cutout test won't show anything wrong because it's on the mechanical side of the injector... Just like mine earlier this year.. Mine it's a E-model.
     
    brenes-built, Oct 12, 2011
    brenes-built, Oct 12, 2011
    #4
  7. Oct 12, 2011 #5
    blackpipes

    blackpipes Light Load Member

    61
    18
    May 4, 2010
    king ferry,ny
    0
    My 99 pete was doing some of that too. Just not quite that bad. I replaced all the fuel lines from the tank to the motor. Cost me like 125bucks. Made a big difference in starting and it runs much smoother.
     
    blackpipes, Oct 12, 2011
    blackpipes, Oct 12, 2011
    #5
  8. Oct 12, 2011 #6
    Mr. Haney

    Mr. Haney Road Train Member

    2,693
    2,040
    Dec 17, 2008
    0
    Both the head gasket and lower O-Ring on an injector could possibly cause the problem. You'll have to do some testing to determine which it is. You can use CAT ET to turn injectors on and off to watch the smoke change this will tell you which cylinder you have to look at. Otherwise the down and dirty way is to pull the exhaust manifold with the oil supply line to the turbo blocked and start the truck to see which cylinder is blowing smoke.
     
    Mr. Haney, Oct 12, 2011
    Mr. Haney, Oct 12, 2011
    #6
    WyoVac Thanks this.
  9. Oct 19, 2011 #7
    paperchase

    paperchase Bobtail Member

    20
    2
    Jul 16, 2011
    houston, tx
    0
    i had this problem a while back and found i had a broke spring on nuber 6 injector and bad o rings on 3 and 4. up graded to the 6 pack of 58. no start prob and injectors are bad to the bone!
     
    paperchase, Oct 19, 2011
    paperchase, Oct 19, 2011
    #7
    WyoVac Thanks this.
  10. Oct 20, 2011 #8
    Shade Tree

    Shade Tree Light Load Member

    177
    44
    May 15, 2011
    Galloway Ohio
    0
    Check for loosing prime when the engine shuts off. The relief valve in the fuel block is supposed to hold enough suction on the fuel system when the engine shuts off that the fuel doesn't drain back to the tank. The easiest way to tell is hook a fuel pressure gage up and if fuel pressure falls to zero when the engine is shutoff the check valve is bad. it will also show a fluctuation in pressure and in some rare cases a lower than normal pressure.
     
    Shade Tree, Oct 20, 2011
    Shade Tree, Oct 20, 2011
    #8
  11. Oct 20, 2011 #9
    bassmaster146

    bassmaster146 Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    Oct 20, 2011
    0
    more than likely an injector o-ring have alot of problwms out of them
     
    bassmaster146, Oct 20, 2011
    bassmaster146, Oct 20, 2011
    #9
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