21 hp 3cyl diesel; why so much smoke on start up?

donovjim

New member

Equipment
GR2110
Jul 13, 2015
8
0
0
Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
My first diesel. Gr2110 with 148 hours. Quite a bit of (at first) black and then white smoke on start up. Lasts about a minute or so until it warms up. I'm wondering if this is common at all times or is a tune up issue? Suggestions?
 

Bulldog

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M 9000 DTC, L 3000 DT
Mar 30, 2010
5,440
73
48
Rocky Face, Georgia
The black smoke is unburned fuel being injected in the cylinders before it fires up. After it fires the white smoke is normal from a cold engine. Obviously since most diesels don't have spark plugs they ignite fuel from compression alone and cold temps will affect how long it takes for the white smoke to clear.

From what you describe it sounds like everything is normal
 

bxray

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Equipment
Bx25d
Dec 1, 2014
712
1
18
Cleveland, ohio
How long are you running the glow plugs before starting?
10-15 seconds?
Longer if it is colder.
Ray
 
Last edited:

North Idaho Wolfman

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If it's excessive might mean that it needs service, air filters play a role as do fuel filters.
Or it might be as serious as needing the injectors serviced or replaced.
 

macattackga

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L2000DT
Feb 18, 2015
16
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0
Fairfax
My first diesel. Gr2110 with 148 hours. Quite a bit of (at first) black and then white smoke on start up. Lasts about a minute or so until it warms up. I'm wondering if this is common at all times or is a tune up issue? Suggestions?
Try more glow plug time... use a watch... try 30 full sec...
 

CaveCreekRay

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L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
Jul 11, 2014
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I live in AZ and I still use my glow plug warming because it takes a load off the starter. Cranks right up almost instantaneously after as little as 5-10 seconds of "pre-heat." Cuts back on smoking on start-up as well.
 

ShaunRH

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L3200
May 14, 2014
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Atascadero, CA
Yup, even 90° outside, first start of the day always got a 10 count of glow before firing up. Works perfectly.

My unit has so few hours on it that it doesn't smoke at all at start, just one puff of dark exhaust then runs clean.
 

OBKubota

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2014Gr2120,Gr2728Snowblower,Gck5GrassCatcher,agri-FabSpreader
Oct 21, 2014
205
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Ontario
I have gr2120 and the manual say's start at half throttle and shut down on an idle as well as 5-10 seconds glow plug time depending on temperature.
Good luck !
 

donovjim

New member

Equipment
GR2110
Jul 13, 2015
8
0
0
Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
I'll have to be honest and say I don't use glow at all....just roll it over. I'll have to do that... I was told by the seller it wasn't necessary but clearly he was wrong. (no wonder I had to change the air and fuel filters and even the waterpump).
I'm assuming that's just stage 2 on the key (I don't have a manual) for 30 seconds.
Thanks for the guidance. ...j