Check the first post in the thread ... I went into significant detail on how it has been acting... it's still acting the same way.

 

Still sounds like a fuel problem to me. Unless the timing has slipped WAY down; then even though bumping it may help other stuff; i dont really think its your problem. But; if it were me, i would probably go ahead, and bump it myself anyway. Cant hurt anything. Im thinking the injection pump, with 418k miles on it?

Eric

 

I really think that your problem is more serious than some might think. Blue smoke sounds like incomplete combustion, possible lean condition. Maybe a simple lift pump problem. I assume you changed the fuel filter? Check the compression, it could be a valvetrain problem.

You might have an injection pump problem as well. Alot of diesel pumps have an internal (hydraulic) timing control area. If that were at fault that might explain that fire in the hole problem you've been having. The missing also might be caused by leakage past worn internal pump components.

Be careful with that thing, although it is unlikely since it is turbocharged, a diesel can reverse rotation when it backfires! I have personally seen this happen, it's not cool when exhaust starts coming out the air filter and the oil pressure light comes on!

 

im telling you check my stuff out you already spent money on injectors you dont need your prob sounds like the prob i had and it had a lot of the guys here baffled so check out my blue smoke stuff im sure youll find a lot in common with your truck

 

I'd check the fuel supply pressure. That's a lot of miles on that lift pump. I bet it's toast. At those miles, I think I'd replace it regardless.

 

The Ox rides again!
I bumped the timing ... and bumped it again ... and bumped it yet again ... ended up moving it almost 3/16", but finally the haze cleared a bit and the sputter/smokescreen went away. Idle dropped from 900 to 750 ...
Here's my thoughts:
I had a couple lazy injectors at the start. That WAS the problem. Replaced 'em with 190's, and the sputter/smoke lessened slightly, but was still obnoxiously there (shootin a flame now n again comin down the mountains, and keepin peope 100yards back with the smoke). Reason: The 190s require a bit of timing bump to compensate for a higher pop pressure, no? So even though the injectors were now good, they were popping later... Plus 420k on all original fuel system components (read: worn out) means things were significantly retarded from where they should be. So timing was the final cure. Starts like it used to as well :-)

Wanted to say thanks to everybody that chimed in as we tracked down the pesky bugger!!!!!!!!

KSB still doesn't work ... I'm convinced that the solenoid doesn't have the holding pressure it needs, so for $100 (unless someone knows where to get one cheaper, I'm going through Bosch) I'm going to replace the solenoid. CO / WY / MI winters could really benefit from that cold-weather timing bump...
I'm gonna install gauges for fuel pressure, exhaust temp, and boost next week, along with a 16cm2 housing to get that 21cm2 dog out of the system. May do mechanical oil and water temp while I've got it all apart...

Thoughts or opinions on any of my reasoning or "logic"? And yes, I did just get a paycheck that's burning a hole in my pocket.