1994 6.5 td on Chevy k1500 running extremely rough
 

Hi, I'm fairly new to the diesel world and I'm running into a slight problem. My fuel line recently busted and I replaced the line and bled the lines up to the gp's and now my truck is running extremely rough and has trouble starting. I need to use ether to get it started in the morning or if I let it sit for more than a couple hours. Basically, if the truck is warm it'll start right up. When I do finally get it started, it runs extremely rough and ticks. Also, its blowing darker smoke when I put down the pedal and a bluish/grayish smoke at an idle. Please help!

(Update) ran really rough driving down the road. Heard from a friend of mine that if you run it hard it should clear it the system. I did that and it blew out a bunch of black smoke like I had just used the last bit of fuel. Ran perfect for about 30 seconds, no ticks or anything like that. Just as suddenly as it started to run real smooth, a loud ticking noise like a card in bicycle spokes started and then it died all together. I ended up having to bleed the lines again and it eventually started. When it did finally start up the trick was running so rough that it was shaking the whole truck side to side with an ungodly amount of white/gray smoke coming out of the exhaust. Any ideas on what the issue might be would be a load of help!!

After doing some research, I'm thinking either bad egr valve or my water separator isn't working properly. Any thoughts?

First off don't use ether on a motor with glow plugs. Your cold start problems may be due to your glow plugs not working properly. As for the running rough, I'd start by searching the fuel system for air leaks and making sure you have proper fuel pressure provided by the lift pump.

Heard from a diesel mechanic that as long as you don't use a lot you should be fine and I've replaced the LP already with no improvement

That diesel mechanic obviously knows nothing at all about a 6.5 and any either or any diesel with glow plugs use only non stick cooking non stick spray or WD-40 but as bad as you say the truck is running it may be too late.

It was running shitty like this before the ether

undiagnoed air leak, may be due to an INOP LP...

See Lift Pump Replacement, The Right Way