Smoking/Hard Starting International 454

dvcochran

New User
I have an International 454 diesel. Around 6 years ago two of the sleeves started passing water. There was some questionable corrosion on the block so I opted to buy a completely NEW short block from case. No it wasn't cheap. The head checked good and was reworked. The water pump was replaced. The injectors were replace with a rebuilt set. The problem. Before the overhaul the tractor smoked. I would call it a grey smoke but it had a strong fuel smell. After the rebuild the smoke has always been about the same. The mechanic said he thought it would go away when the engine broke-in. I do not think it has ever changed any. The mechanic suggested overheating the engine briefly to seat the rings. I did this in his presence but saw no change. Another possible related symptom; To start the tractor when it is cold you have to let the engine turn over quite a lot. After this is done once it starts good. When it is very cold as it has been this year in middle TN the tractor will miss for several seconds like it is not hitting on all cylinders. This only last for maybe 5 - 10 seconds. It does smoke much worse when it is cold. Since the smoking and starting was the same before the overhaul, does this sound like an injector or injection pump problem? How would I tell or test? Thanks for any help.
David Cochran
6165-483-2381
 
Hi David, I assume injection pump was moved from old engine block? Was injection pump timing set properly? Your description of problem would indicate two problems:
1) Injection timing too slow
2) Rings are not seated properly.

You need to work those German Diesels hard to seat the rings.

JimB
 
you have to get the spec's and then check them against the tractor. how was the head reworked?
smoking at idle or pulling?
to seat rings the engine has to be at operating temp and worked hard. this drives the rings outward into the crosshatch cyl. pattern. just overheating it is useless, and may cause more damage than good. you do not want the piston skirts getting scored from no clearance due to expansion.
how would I tell or test... do a compression check on it, that pretty much tells the engines condition. then you can look to the fuel side of things.
was this qualified personal doing this job? if not then that may be another hair puller.
 
I agree, with your opinion, and I also have grief with any """technician""" That would recommend overheating any engine to """help"""it. NO!!! Jim
 
I have the 464 diesel ,same as yours basically,the smoke thing,mine does it bad when it"s cold or warm start up, N Wisconsin, mine has the ether start button, and it will fire right off, even at -10.Have a friend who rebuilt older diesel backhoe,still smoked after he finished that job,maybe getting to much fuel and thaat"s why the excess smoke??????
 

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