Answer From Dealer On White Smoke and Rough Idle
 

Well I had my truck in the shop for a rough Idle and LOTS of white smoke on the first start-up of the day. After running all the tests and not being able to figue out what was wong they called a "head" tech at Dodge. He gave them some more test to run... All THOSE checked out. After that they contacted some one at Cummins. Here is what he had to say. His answer was that Cummins feels that rough idle and white smoke at start-up is acceptable for up to 2 min as long as everything in the fuel system checks out. His answer was that the engine was not fully broken in and the rings not seated well. The dealer informed him that my truck had 16,000 miles on it and the Cummins rep said it does not matter. He then asked what color the spacers for the bolts on the exhaust manifold where. When we responed they where still silver he said then the engine has never reached full operating temp. Supposedly they turn brownish bronze when the engine has reached the proper break in temp which will only happen when the engine is worked hard like it should be. He said for me to put 10,000lbs behind it and go for a 200 mile trip and he bets that the problem goes away. Interesting... Now for some pics...

The first in my truck... Notice the color of the spacers... Nice an silver...
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Next is a pic I stole... errr... borrowed from Super Dave's DIY valve adjustment thread (which was gret by the way)... Notice these... Bronze...
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So lets hear some others chime in... How heavy do you pull... How often... How many Miles on the Truck... and what color are you spacers?

Wow thats new to me. I guess cummins would be the duty expert. Take it out and run the crap out of it, it's still under warranty.

That's kinda what the dealer said... If somthig is wrong it will get worse... then they can deal with it. He was as shocked about the answer from cummins as I was.

Yeah that engine looks pretty new and clean... work it... 10k lbs is a light load, put 15k behind ya and drive at 70mph up some grades.

it does make sense. you haven't even slightly tapped the potential of the engine. beat that thing up like he says. you have nothing to lose.:U:

I drive the everliving hell outta this thing... Its odd though that the smoke didn't start untill ~15k miles...

I guess mine is well broken in then:U: It has 58K and the previous owner towed a heavy goose neck. I never met him, but the underbed gooseneck hitch is slightly bent down from the weight put on it. I think that gives an idea of what kind of weight the Cummins rep is talking about.

BTW, what is that thin metal strip between the back two exhaust bolts for?

No clue....

it's wierd that they'd only choose those 2 bolts. that strip's gotta be there to keep the bolts from turning by locking the heads. you'd think they'd all have them.

Hook it to a Ford ,,,, No A Chevy No.... You better just Find a big trailor to hook to :)