94 Suburban 6.5 Diesel White Smoke

[Papi325i]

Hey everyone. Just picked up this nice diesel Suburban off the fire department. It runs great, sounds great, but has heavy white smoke from the exhaust. It comes and goes, but I did notice it more now that I topped it off with coolant/water. I'm hoping it's not something bad, but what do you guys think with the fact that it started after adding coolant? Also, when I turn it off, I can hear the car gurgle quite loudly for a minute or so. Thanks for the tips.

Rudy

[dasaroth]

White smoke from a diesel engine could be normal when it is very humid and cold, or the glow plugs are not working to their full potential.as long as the white smoke is not excessive. It also could be an indication of a head gasket sealing problem. Most will not leak after running a while, due to extreme cylinder pressure. After the engine rests with combustion pressure in the coolant system, the coolant can work it's way back into the cylinders through the failing head gasket. if a head gasket leak is present you could have a hydro lock situation combined with the high torque starter could potentially hurt your engine.have you smelled your exhaust, notice a coolant or sweet smell to it? Has your coolant level dropped since filling it? Is the coolant dark in color or smells like diesel exhaust (smells like a weird spice in the coolant, almost like someone put black pepper and gunpowder in it).have you checked your oil for any coolant in it?(milky in color) Do you radiator hoses get pressurized very quickly? Or your overflow tank fill up or over flow? not to be the bearer of bad news but it does sound like you have a leaking head gasket.i would take it to a reputable diesel shop to do a leak down test of the cylinders to make sure.i wish you luck and hopefully an easy and not to costly fix. john.

[Papi325i]

Yeah, I'm gonna get it checked out. I can't notice any coolant smell from the exhaust, but I may just have a bad sense of smell. But I'll check the reservoir tomorrow.

On another note, I just got back now from driving and what's odd is how inconsistent the smoke is. Sometimes it's really bad, and sometimes it's gone. I have noticed that my temperature gauge fluctuates heavily. It'll normally read around 180, then spike quickly to 240-ish. When it almost gets to red, the "Check Gauge" light will go on, then the gauge will retreat to 180. Oddly enough, it's around this time the smoke will tend to stop.

Anyways... either way I need to have a look at it. Haha

[Papi325i]

Just to update, had the truck checked out. I guess they presure tested it and it failed, most likely through a head gasket or cylinder head itself. Don't have time to fix it, so trying to sell it as is; see how that goes.

[RICE POLICE]

where did they say it was leaking from?

[kbuss]

sounds like a tranny fluid leak

[Joeairforce]

sounds like a tranny fluid leak

A transmission fluid leak would NOT be seen from the exhaust.......

[Papi325i]

Yeah, it was coolant getting into the combustion. I was able to sell the truck at cost to a guy with a shop willing to work on it in his spare time. Too bad because other than that is was a sweet Burban off LA Co. Fire.