white smoke and shaking

[powerstroke4life250]

I have a 1990 Ford idi that sometimes will start hard and shakes at an idle, it almost always blows white smoke but sometimes stops tired of friends making fun of me need some help im new to diesels

[dakotajeep]

Dude you most likely have an air intrusion or glow plug problem or both.

How long does your glow plug light stay on? Have you checked your glow plugs? If not I would recommend checking them or replacing them outright with ONLY Motorcraft/Beru plugs!!!

Also, you need to check your return lines since that is the most likely location. Return line kits are relatively inexpensive to do as preventative maintenance anyhow.

Let me know if you need more specific information.....

Thad

[powerstroke4life250]

it only stays on for like 15 sec and would that make it smoke

[dakotajeep]

15 secs is not too long. Its the real short ones that are of a big concern.

From the discription I would think you have a bad glow plug or two and possibly even an air intrusion, most likely in the return lines.

Do the return lines have any fuel on them that would indicate a possible leak?

I would definately check the glow plugs first. This is a good test for the glow plugs themselves (each glow plug should be tested individually with the the wire disconnected):

Using a test light you want to disconnect the glow plug wire connection, connect the light to the positive side of the battery and then touch the other side to the glow plug connection. If the light comes on you are good. Otherwise they need to be replaced.

Hope this helps!
Thad