Cummins
Abnormal Exhaust Smoke
Exhaust smoke is excessive (black, blue, or white) during operation
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Black: overfueling or restricted air filter, Blue: oil consumption from worn engine or turbo seals, White: unburned fuel from low compression or injector issues
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Operate in a well-ventilated area. Exhaust gases are toxic. Disable automatic start before close inspection.
- Black smoke: Check and replace a dirty air filter. Ensure turbocharger and intake hoses are intact. Verify the generator is not severely overloaded.
- Blue smoke: Inspect for excessive oil level and correct if overfilled. Check turbocharger for oil leakage. Persistent blue smoke indicates engine wear and requires service.
- White smoke: In cold conditions, some white vapor is normal. Continuous white smoke may indicate injector or compression problems; contact a Cummins technician.
- Monitor: After basic checks, run under normal load and observe changes in smoke color and intensity.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Air Filter Element
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