CK20 blowing blue smoke??!!?

[EGo_SmAsH]

Was chipping some branches today with my CK20 HST (750 hrs) and noticed alot of blueish smoke from the exhaust. I was running it at 540 rpm but there was not a heavy load on the motor. I shut it down and checked the oil-it was fine so I continued chipping until i was done. When I got back to the garage I changed the engine oil and filter, cleaned the air filter and dumped 1/3 can of Seafoam in the tank.

Do I have a fuel issue here?? If I have a dirty injector will the Seafoam clear it up....or do i have bigger issues? I have aloso noticed a minor loss in power for the last couple months...not sure if it is connected with this or not. Thanks

 

[Coyote machine]

Loss of power is your biggest clue. Seafoam is great, but if a cylinder has a problem, as an example, chances are nothing will change. I would not use the tractor further until you determine the cause and solution. If the problem is as simple as a clogged or non- functioning injector the Seafoam might change the symptoms, but I think it is unlikely. It would be a good idea to verify each cylinder's injector function and if they are good you may have to dig deeper to see if you have a gasket or head/valve/ or ring problem.

Is this machine under warranty? If so contact your dealer right away- and even if it isn't contact them for their thoughts on where to look if you are going to do the diagnosis.

 

[Dmace]

Sounds like a leaky injector allowing some oil into the cylinder...

It's normal for a little while the engine is cold but if you see blue smoke when it's warm and under load then start looking for oil consumption.

 

[EGo_SmAsH]

The warranty ran out 3 months ago. I put over an hour on it today cutting grass and it ran fine with no smoke except for on start-up for about 15 seconds. Hopefully the seafoam will cure this!!

 

[Highbeam]

15 seconds! I never get any blue smoke at all on my 1000 hour CK30. No white smoke either. Only the blackish grey puffs of unburnt fuel at startup or when applying a sudden load.

I would say that blue smoke is never normal.

 

[moe1942]

I'm using my SIL's CK20 and notice a few seconds of blue smoke from the exhaust on start. It runs great and I have been using sea foam.. It only does it on start. Anything I should worry about? Have no diesel experience..

 

[Dmace]

I would say that blue smoke is never normal.

A little smoke at start-up no matter the color is normal. There are so many variables that can lead to a little oil or coolant getting in the cylinders that it really isn't a problem unless it does it after the engine is warm and under load.

It only does it on start. Anything I should worry about?

If it only does it on start-up then no I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Rhinorider]

Blue smoke = oil in cylinder, black smoke = unburnt fuel, white smoke = antifreeze/water in cylinder. I'm with everyone else have it checked ASAP, it would be a good idea to do a compression check, that will tell if you have a ring or valve seal problem.

 

[PoorMansCat]

There are so many variables that can lead to a little oil or coolant getting in the cylinders that it really isn't a problem unless it does it after the engine is warm and under load.

WHAT????? there is not a situation where a little coolant getting into a combustion chamber is ok... !
Coolant should NEVER be in the combustion chanber.

As others have stated, blue smoke is generally oil being burnt.... an exception to that could be a PC engine with a nozzle issue, sometimes it will show up as a blueish looking smoke...
Not sure about the Kiotis, are they PC or DI engines???

 

[dfkrug]

Blue smoke = oil in cylinder, black smoke = unburnt fuel, white smoke = antifreeze/water in cylinder. I'm with everyone else have it checked ASAP, it would be a good idea to do a compression check, that will tell if you have a ring or valve seal problem.

For the most part, yes, that's what happens to Diesels, but you can also
get white smoke from completely unburnt fuel, as when starting an
engine that does not fire.

IMO, any blue smoke is bad, but only at start-up points to leaky valve
guides, which do not need to be fixed for possibly many years. You can test
this theory by operating the tractor under engine-braking (hi-vacuum).
You can see if the rings are tired by pulliing off the PCV hose and seeing
if you have excessive blow-by gases coming out of it.

Of course, a compression test is a good thing, but hard to do because
you need an injector adapter or glow plug adapter. (CK20 has glows, and
is a non-DI engine.) Injectors are often hard to remove, too.

The best scenario for the OP is a leaky head gasket, which gives him low
compression in one cyl and an oil leak into the cyl.

 

[crash325]

Blue smoke = oil in cylinder, black smoke = unburnt fuel, white smoke = antifreeze/water in cylinder. I'm with everyone else have it checked ASAP, it would be a good idea to do a compression check, that will tell if you have a ring or valve seal problem.

Rhino Rider nailed it. Almost always, Blue is oil - Black is fuel - White (actually steam.) is water or coolant.

At 540 (engine RPM ??) or PTO speed. If that is engine RPM, About 200 RPM low.
If PTO speed, use a lower PTO speed if not really loading the engine. Its not good for any engine to run at a high RPM with out a load.

Check compression on all cylinders. If all low usually rings, if only 1 low, usually valves. Valve guides normally only make smoke at start up, but your engine will be burning oil.

 

[EGo_SmAsH]

Rhino Rider nailed it. Almost always, Blue is oil - Black is fuel - White (actually steam.) is water or coolant.

At 540 (engine RPM ??) or PTO speed. If that is engine RPM, About 200 RPM low.
If PTO speed, use a lower PTO speed if not really loading the engine. Its not good for any engine to run at a high RPM with out a load.

Check compression on all cylinders. If all low usually rings, if only 1 low, usually valves. Valve guides normally only make smoke at start up, but your engine will be burning oil.

Well to update, Ive ran her about 5 hours with no smoke even at startup. Its odd how this seems to be an isolated incident and has never occurred before nor since....bad fuel???? Also, white smoke (especially on a start) = unburnt fuel as far as i know

 

[Dmace]

Well to update, Ive ran her about 5 hours with no smoke even at startup. Its odd how this seems to be an isolated incident and has never occurred before nor since....bad fuel???? Also, white smoke (especially on a start) = unburnt fuel as far as i know

You say you were chipping when you saw the blue smoke, so the machine was stationary and running at very high rpm's. Granted these cooling systems are designed to work with very little travel speed but I wouldn't be surprised if you ran the tractor a little hot which may have lead to a few seals given in to the high temps and allowing some oil in the combustion chamber.

 

[4020tanner!]

A little smoke at start-up no matter the color is normal. There are so many variables that can lead to a little oil or coolant getting in the cylinders that it really isn't a problem unless it does it after the engine is warm and under load.

If it only does it on start-up then no I wouldn't worry about it.

I have just little puff blue smoke at max rpm with load in neutral. If I don't go wide open or max rpm I never see blue smoke even under heavy load