lots of smoke for long time on start up

[Andy king]

had a cummins 6bta rebuilt now when we start up there is loads of white smoke and leaves a rainbow on top of water,after a run all smoke etc goes but if you start next day it is back bad again. any ideas please. being told it is wrong injectors in the engine this is why all the smoke etc. pic below of what we see on water on tick over. checked filters for water all good ?? also short vid of the smoke we get just will not clear till you have a run. any help please thanks.

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[Tony Athens]

Andy,

Got all the pics you send and looked the engine over really close. Should be a CPL 2205–Use this as a serial number for parts.. 45806470.

Pics were very good..

Questions:

Rebuild parts? Genuine or aftermarket?

Did you bore all 6 cylinders? What oversize?

Injectors??—- what parts nuber did you buy ? Or if rebuilt, what spec did they use?

I show an injector # as 3802818 or 3897596PX

Tony

[Tony Athens]

Andy–the pics you posted—send them to me direct in HI-RES..

When you take new pics be sure I see really good pics if the injection pump..

Curious–do you know where this engine originally came from? Are you sure this was originally built as a “marine engine” and was not a “convert”..

Tony

[Andy king]

will go to boat this weekend just to get pics for you to look at there are a few here to start with but from what your saying don’t think there be good enough.
thanks Andy.

[Tony Athens]

Andy,

I just realized what we are all missing here……………..What you say?

How about some really good pictures of your engine as installed in the boat–All angles & all perspective and ALL, CLEAR & IN-FOCUS…..Post here and then them to me direct in high res….

At this point, we need to SEE just what we are dealing with as I do not think you or your mechanic really knows what you have.. Be sure I see all, especially from the top down so I can ID all injectors lines and there routing to the injection pump.. With that, I can get really close as to all.. My “eyes” are like no other on something like this. If I do not see what I need, I will ask you to “zero” of on a particular spot on the engine..

HURRY!

Tony

[Andy king]

HI MATE
THANKS FOR ANSWERING ME.
1. have asked for this as it was not on front cover like most. still waiting.
2.been told wrong nozzle for the 260 BTA so bought new ones(correct nozzle numbers according to chap who built it for me) and they are 9 mm when my head holes are at 7 mm.
3.washers are all correct injectors seated right.
4.being told the timing is spot on but will press again to check it.
5.just bought as recon 6 BTA 210 hp from local but had trouble from day one.
6. because we had so much back pressure and oil leaks everywhere, even pushing up the dip stick around back of turbo and big loss of power, and bad smoke under load so decided to have it rebuilt. and its not done 2 hours even yet could it need to bed in ??. could this cause the problem at start up.
7. starts on flick of key don’t turn over just fires up,runs bit lumpy then clears can send short vid of that if helps.
Appreciate your feed back as your site and knowledge is very good.
cheers Andy.

[Tony Athens]

1) ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER

2) Wrong injector or injector nozzles could easily cause the issue

3) The wrong thickness washer, or 2 washers on one or more of them on the bottom of the injector, could cause the issue

4) Injection pump timing could cause the issue

5) total history of the engine

6) Exactly why was the engine rebuilt?

7) When stone cold at 40F, and batteries good, how easily does the engine start up?

Address these 7 things in order — Please no rambling–Make it easy for us..

Tony

[Andy king]

hi mate. everything was rebuilt all coolers was checked etc and new rings pistons re-board as was some vertical scoring, new turbo total strip down and rebuilt, but used the old head that has got 7 mm holes. we did get injector nozzles replaced before the rebuild but after it had been done we found out that they are the wrong nozzles and are not available in 7 mm so the new ones recommended by Cummins are 9 mm the hole in our head is 7 mm and are being told that we need these new nozzles for the engine to run correct. cpl etc i have to get from who rebuilt it after weekend and get them to you. do you think wrong nozzles could also cause this problem many thanks Andy.

[Rob Schepis]

CPL?
Serial Number?
What exactly was “rebuilt”
Was this originally a 9mm head changed out as part of the rebuild to a 7mm head?

[Andy king]

hi mate. that was just on start up ready to go out average temp at mo is around 40F. she was out for around 2 months fuel is all good checked it plus new filters etc. the vid dont do it justice as it is real bad and smells very fuel as well. what im being told is the injectors in her are wrong ones according to cummins the nozzles are wrong they are 7 mm ones now got be changed to 9 mm. single screw before we had rebuild never smoked like it at start up before, do you think could be wrong injectors ?? im in doubt. appreciate your advise and input. the film on top of water is that from cold as well you think. thanks lot Andy.

[Rob Schepis]

What’s your current temps, 30-40 deg F?
Looks like a classic situation of low temp white smoke to me.
The fact that this goes away after you get a load on her and up to temperature proves that adding heat (such as a Wolverine) to the engine will resolve your issue.
Don’t idle her in the slip — get her out and under light load promptly once the engine(s) are fired up..
How long was she out of commission? Is the fuel old or questionable as to quality?
Is this a twin screw and one is smoking more than the other?

https://www.sbmar.com/articles/what-is-white-smoke/

[Author]

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