Diesel Engine Problems

[gmaurer]

While motoring in this evening at low RPM''s, the diesel engine suddenly
started smoking (whiteish blue) out the exhaust, and racing slightly on its own.
I immediately shut it down.
When I pulled the engine cover, there was considerable oil splatters about,
and a little puddling. I suspect the oil came out of the breather tube, but
not sure - didn''t want to restart for a "test." It also looked like oil had
entered the air intake (hence the racing?), probably from the breather tube
which is right next to the air intake. Engine temperature held its own, and
no other signs of distress around the engine.
Any ideas on the cause? The engine is a Universal M12, about 15 years old.

[haffiman37]

This looks like "water in combustion chamber" which gives the white smoke. If you are lucky, only a blown head gasket.

[hamiam]

Alas, the cause of white smoke could come from water in the fuel or antifreeze leaking into the cumbustion chamber or a myriad of other things. IE if you fuel/air mixture is too lean. Im worried about the blueish smoke; that indicates you are burning engine oil and that is not a good thing. You should check the level and composition of both your antifreeze and your engine oil. If the oil is contaminated with antifreeze it will have a milky look and quality to it. If the antifreeze level is down and/or contaminated with oil you may have something like a warped head on your engine. And how do i know this? Same thing happened to me. Of course if the smoke was pure white and not blueish it might be something as simple as a clogged fuel filter which wud cause your engine to run lean and the rpms to oscillate before the engine is starved of fuel. OR it could be water in your fuel. Check out the level of the oil and antifreeze and if either is contaminated. also check and replace your fuel filters and see if there is water in the bowl. and come back to us with the results.

[hamiam]

I re-read your post. By anychance did you change the oil recently and overfill it? This would be one cause for the conditions you describe.