L2250 with blue smoke

[Dozier]

Hi, Fellas,

I recently acquired a L2250 4X4 that produces quite a bit of blue smoke. The hour meter shows 1850 hours but the cable was disconnected when I got it so I'm unsure of total hour count.

The smoke is worse at start up and diminishes some when the engine gets to operating temperature but always smokes quite a bit as compared to my old Yanmar 2210 with 1650 hours. Now, I know it is a diesel tractor, and diesels, especially older ones, are going to smoke some but if there's something simple I could do to it, I sure would like to clean it up a little.

I've always been told that blue smoke is oil but as far as I can tell, the tractor is not consuming oil. I did an oil change with 15 40 Rotella when I got it and so far I've put about 10 hours on it with no noticeable oil consumption. The oil still appears to be good and clean with no dilution problems. I don't have the equipment to do a diesel compression check but can tell you that the tractor starts good in cold weather and has plenty of power. There's some blow by coming out of the breather tube but no oil. I suppose it could be a leaky valve stem seal but isn't that usually more of smoke on startup problem?

I was just wondering if you all thought the problem might be injector related? I've heard that poor atomization causes white smoke but it seems to me that since diesel is oil, it could cause blue smoke as well. Anybody have experience with injectors causing blue smoke? Any info/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[eserv]

Hi, Fellas,

I recently acquired a L2250 4X4 that produces quite a bit of blue smoke. The hour meter shows 1850 hours but the cable was disconnected when I got it so I'm unsure of total hour count.

The smoke is worse at start up and diminishes some when the engine gets to operating temperature but always smokes quite a bit as compared to my old Yanmar 2210 with 1650 hours. Now, I know it is a diesel tractor, and diesels, especially older ones, are going to smoke some but if there's something simple I could do to it, I sure would like to clean it up a little.

I've always been told that blue smoke is oil but as far as I can tell, the tractor is not consuming oil. I did an oil change with 15 40 Rotella when I got it and so far I've put about 10 hours on it with no noticeable oil consumption. The oil still appears to be good and clean with no dilution problems. I don't have the equipment to do a diesel compression check but can tell you that the tractor starts good in cold weather and has plenty of power. There's some blow by coming out of the breather tube but no oil. I suppose it could be a leaky valve stem seal but isn't that usually more of smoke on startup problem?

I was just wondering if you all thought the problem might be injector related? I've heard that poor atomization causes white smoke but it seems to me that since diesel is oil, it could cause blue smoke as well. Anybody have experience with injectors causing blue smoke? Any info/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

There shouldn't be any detectable blowby from the breather tube. If there is it indicates worn cylinder liners and rings. If you have blowby you will have engine oil getting into the combustion chambers causing the blue smoke. You also will have unburnt fuel getting into the crankcase relacing the oil that is being burnt so you may no experience rapid oil consumption but you WILL have oil dilution so you will need to change the oil more often. Blue smoke in not injector related.

Ed

 

[Dozier]

Ok, thanks. I was kind of afraid of that but was hoping it might be something simpler and much less expensive. I suppose I'll put up with it for now until it becomes a performance issue. So, when the time comes, where's the best place to buy overhaul parts?

 

[kuboman]

A little blowby is not abnormal. Yours sounds normal to me. Assessing blowby is also different for each individual. My assessment would lean more to the fuel system. Run a good strong dose of fuel conditioner/injector cleaner for a while and see if it does not diminish the smoke. Blue smoke in a diesel is an indication of poor combustion which can be due to the fuel system or worn rings(low compression). If it starts well I doubt it is poor compression.

 

[eserv]

A little blowby is not abnormal. Yours sounds normal to me. Assessing blowby is also different for each individual.


Yes, I guess it depends on whether you're buying it or selling it!:
Ed

 

[Dozier]

A little blowby is not abnormal. Yours sounds normal to me. Assessing blowby is also different for each individual.


Yes, I guess it depends on whether you're buying it or selling it!:
Ed

Thanks, Kuboman. Yeah, we're not talking about a whole lot of blowby. If I put my hand under the tube I really can't feel anything but if I place my finger over the vent tube for a few a seconds and then release, there's a short blast of air strong enough to move dust particles on the garage floor.

I, too, kinda doubt it is a compression issue. The darn thinks just runs/starts too good for there to be much wrong with it. Furthermore, the smoke smells more like raw diesel than burnt oil. I'll run some conditioner through it and let you know what happens. Thanks.

 

[Bluegill]

Doesn't sound too bad. Our old 3750 has a bit of blow by and blue smoke, same as it did 10 years ago.

 

[kuboman]

Thanks, Kuboman. Yeah, we're not talking about a whole lot of blowby. If I put my hand under the tube I really can't feel anything but if I place my finger over the vent tube for a few a seconds and then release, there's a short blast of air strong enough to move dust particles on the garage floor.

I, too, kinda doubt it is a compression issue. The darn thinks just runs/starts too good for there to be much wrong with it. Furthermore, the smoke smells more like raw diesel than burnt oil. I'll run some conditioner through it and let you know what happens. Thanks.

You definitely have some blowby but if it is starting well then compression should be ok. I still think it is a fuel system that is either worn or needs some cleaning. Run with conditioner for quite a few hours and I'll bet the smoke gets less. If you have some way of putting it on a good steady load that would work it would be good.