Engine - White Exhaust Smoke, Cold Start Rough Running

Number 83-I-57 Section 6B Date 04/83
Subject: WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE AND ROUGH RUNNING ON COLD START - 1983 V-6 DIESEL ENGINE (VIN CODE T)
White exhaust smoke and a rough running engine may be experienced on some 1983 Pontiacs equipped with a V-6 diesel engine. This condition will usually only be noticed on new cars in dealer inventory, or cars that have only been in service a day or two.

The condition may be due to belt driven accessories placing a high load on the engine. With high loads, the accelerator must be depressed to maintain engine speed. This causes the timing to be retarded by the action of the advance face cam.

To prevent the retarding of the timing:

^ In cold weather, the engine oil must be winter grade.

^ The batteries should be fully charged to prevent a high alternator load.

^ The idle speed should be set to specification.

^ The timing should be set to specification.

^ The housing pressure cold advance must be working and the advance piston in the injection pump must not be sticking.

Once these cars accumulate some miles, internal engine friction should be reduced and this condition will not occur.