New Injectors Causing 7.3 Powerstroke to Billow White Smoke… Any Advice?

Hey all, I’ve got an ‘01 Excursion with newly installed FFD 180/30 injectors (recommended by Brian at Jellibuilt). It ran perfectly for two days, but now it’s billowing white smoke, mainly at idle (under 1k RPM). Sometimes gunning the engine clears it, but other times it just keeps smoking. It smells like fuel, almost like gunpowder.

Anyone know if an injector could be sticking this soon after install?

This morning, I noticed smoke on startup. The smoke looks white in sunlight but shows as grayish-black in my phone camera.

I’m also getting a low ICP pressure code, which could mean an injector is stuck open, but I’m not 100% sure. I just find it odd that I’m having issues this soon after replacing the injectors.

Did you get the engine nice and hot after the injector swap? Sometimes fuel gets into the exhaust during install, and it takes a solid drive to burn it off. I usually hook mine to a trailer and take it for a real haul to burn everything out.

@Kim
I’ve put about 250 miles on it so far, and I even ran it hard racing a 6.7 Powerstroke. No smoke on high idle, only at low idle. Waiting on a Forscan scanner tomorrow to dig into diagnostics.

White smoke without a sweet smell is usually unburnt fuel. Does your radiator fluid smell like diesel? Low ICP pressure could also mean a High-Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) issue or an Injector Pressure Regulator (IPR) problem. A scanner that shows ICP and HPOP readings would really help to figure out what’s going on.

@Penn
Definitely fuel, not coolant. Scanner arrives tomorrow, so I’ll check it out then. Getting inconsistent smoke makes me think it could be a stuck injector, but we’ll see.

Morgan said:
If possible, share some data once you get it. It could be something as simple as replacing the ICP or could need deeper work.

Any updates? Your ICP should be around 460, and IPR should be about 7% at warm idle (above 150F).

@Dana
There’s a slight oil leak, but nothing out of the ordinary. I plan on calling them first thing Monday. Just needed to troubleshoot this weekend because I need my truck!

@Dana
Almost positive it’s just fuel, no oil smell at all. My question is whether a stuck injector would dump fuel at idle or if it would close off altogether.

Here’s a video showing how it sounds and looks. It sounds fine under the hood, but there’s definite smoke at the exhaust. Only seems to smoke at idle.

@Reagan
Doesn’t sound quite right. Did you replace your Under Valve Cover Harness (UVCH) when you did the injectors? If one’s sticking, try unplugging injectors one by one to see if the idle changes.

Dallas said:
@Reagan
Doesn’t sound quite right. Did you replace your Under Valve Cover Harness (UVCH) when you did the injectors? If one’s sticking, try unplugging injectors one by one to see if the idle changes.

UVCH was replaced recently, not with this install, though. Forscan should let me disable injectors individually when it arrives.

Unfortunately, FFD has had a few negative reviews lately. I know of a guy who had to replace multiple injectors after going with FFD and eventually switched brands. If they end up being the issue, maybe look into Rosewood Diesel for a replacement set.

If possible, share some data once you get it. It could be something as simple as replacing the ICP or could need deeper work.

I’d have stuck with OEM injectors. Aftermarket ones can be hit or miss.

Lior said:
I’d have stuck with OEM injectors. Aftermarket ones can be hit or miss.

Agreed, OEM would be great right about now. It was running amazing with these injectors for two days—keeping up with much newer trucks. Shame it’s acting up now!

Is there oil or fuel pooling in the engine valley?

Palmer said:
Is there oil or fuel pooling in the engine valley?

Oil, yes, but it’s from a High-Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) leak I haven’t fixed yet. Just a few drops, nothing major. I’ll be checking all readings with the scanner today.

@Reagan
That HPOP leak could be a factor here. Also, consider that injector O-rings might be leaking.

Palmer said:
@Reagan
That HPOP leak could be a factor here. Also, consider that injector O-rings might be leaking.

Could be. I’m open to the idea of an install issue, but it’s weird that it only happens at idle and not above it. Got the scanner today, so I’ll look into it.