WHITE SMOKE FROM FORD 2725E

[Uncle Bob]

Given the opening description I still believe that the most likely immediate problem would be worn valve stem oil seals. When oil is added to the engine the level in the top will be above the seals for a short time, allowing oil down the guides. Hence the white smoke on first startup after adding oil.
Worn seals usually go hand in hand with worn everything else in the head and the best and most cost effective solution usually is to remove the head and either have it overhauled or do it yourself. It's an old school truck engine and not really that difficult for a DIY practitioner.

[Nifty]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Given the opening description I still believe that the most likely immediate problem would be worn valve stem oil seals. When oil is added to the engine the level in the top will be above the seals for a short time, allowing oil down the guides. Hence the white smoke on first startup after adding oil.
Worn seals usually go hand in hand with worn everything else in the head and the best and most cost effective solution usually is to remove the head and either have it overhauled or do it yourself. It's an old school truck engine and not really that difficult for a DIY practitioner.

Thank you everyone for your input. Because of the smell and the film it leaves on the topsides, it is almost certainly fuel smoke rather than steam. It definitively only occurs after oil filling. We were going down the path Uncle Bob outlined and will now get the spanners out. That said, we also have other rabbits to chase down the hole if it is not the valve stem seals! Cheers from Hobart where the Sydney-Hobart racers are in full flight. Nifty

[nic26]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Funny, I owned an elderly diesel truck for years that would usually release white smoke on cold startup, never did use water. Smelt like fuel, left an oily film on the hand if placed very close to the exhaust and disappeared as the engine warmed.

Great, your a good observer but your reasoning needs some polishing. What tells you it was not water? As it happened only after a cold start you watched condensed water to be burned which got mixed with the exhaust fumes of the diesel and took on smell and a light oily touch and it was good gone after the engine was warm because there was no more condensation. Easy, isnt it?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by nic26

Nope white smoke is always water wherever it comes from. Try it out at home and heat water up until the "white smoke" appears.

No, not necessarily, unburned fuel is also “White Smoke” it’s not smoke at all, it’s just fuel vapor.
Extreme case of course, but if you watch, you will see considerable, white smoke before the engine catches, when it catches it turns black of course
https://youtu.be/z2y-EgVqllM

[Q Xopa]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

No, not necessarily, unburned fuel is also “White Smoke” it’s not smoke at all, it’s just fuel vapor.
Extreme case of course, but if you watch, you will see considerable, white smoke before the engine catches, when it catches it turns black of course
https://youtu.be/z2y-EgVqllM

Yes White smoke generally excess/ unburnt fuel. Especially when cold diesel droplets dont vaporise as easily. Especially if the drop sizes are bigger from the injector tips are a bit carboned/ burnt so they dont spay a nice fine atomised spray.

[rbk]

It should also be pointed out the difference between white smoke and steam. Steam dissipates relatively quickly (depending on ambient temperature)white smoke/fuel not so much.