523 dxi

[colt 0]

i have a 1998 wheel horse 523 dxi  its not runnnig good  it revs up blow i little white smoke
than gos to an idle i change the fuel drain filter that didnt help  could anybody tell me what else it could be

[DennisThornton 4,771]

There are members who own a 523dxi, but unfortunately for both of us I am not one of them.  
However, I expect someone will along shortly to help you.

Signed:  Envious

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

White smoke could be antifreeze. Does the overflow bottle have antifreeze in it?

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

Here is a rundown on reading the exhaust color.

Diesel Engine Exhaust Color

Basically, there are three types of exhaust (smoke) emitted from a diesel engine: Black; Blue; and White.

Black Exhaust

Black exhaust is the most common emitted from diesel engines and indicates incomplete combustion of the fuel. Black exhaust causes can vary widely and include:
· Incorrect fuel injection timing
· Dirty or worn fuel injectors
· Over fueling
· Faulty or dirty exhaust gas recycling (EGR) system
· Incorrect valve clearance
· Incorrect fuel to air ratio
· Dirty or restricted air cleaner systems
· Over loading the engine
· Poor fuel quality
· Cool operating temperatures
· High altitude operation
· Excessive carbon build-up in combustion and exhaust spaces

Black smoke can occur across the entire operating range, but is usually worst under full power. Black exhaust should be hardly visible in a correctly running engine.

Blue Exhaust

Blue exhaust is caused by engine lubricating oil burning. The oil can enter the combustion chamber from several sources including:
· Worn valve guides, or seals
· Cylinder &/or piston ring wear
· Cylinder glaze
· Piston ring sticking
· Incorrect grade of oil .. too thin and getting past rings, or valves guides
· Fuel dilution of the oil, making it too thin.

Blue exhaust is often evident at cold start, which can reflect reduced oil control due to carbon fouling deposits around the piston rings and/or cylinder glaze. Blue smoke should not be evident at any stage.  An engine may burn oil without the evidence of blue smoke, because good compression burns oil quite cleanly, however, it is not acceptable for any new engine, or engine in good internal condition to burn large amounts of lubricating oil. This is also the reason that a diesel engine can run away with the throttle closed. The only way to stop it is cutting off the intake air.

White Exhaust

White smoke is caused by raw, un-burnt fuel passing into the exhaust stream. Common causes include:
· Incorrect fuel injection timing
· Defective fuel injectors
· Low cylinder compression due to a blown head gasket

Low cylinder compression may be caused by leaking valves, sticking piston rings, ring wear, cylinder wear, or cylinder glaze. When white smoke occurs at cold start and then disappears as the engine warms up, the most common causes are fouling deposits around piston rings and/or cylinder glazing.  Continuous evidence of white smoke indicates a mechanical defect, or incorrect fuel timing.

 

Edited November 7, 2015 by shallowwatersailor

[wag220 0]

I also have 1989 523 dxi , and I have a similar problem, although I'm sure its a blown head gasket because I overheated it while I was mulching leaves, normally I clean the screen and blow out the radiator but I guess I got a little lax , so will wait till spring to pull the head. Mine starts hard and will run ok till it warms up then it starts to miss really bad and almost wants to die. so I'm almost positive its a blown head gasket. It was always a great machine and will be again I hope. 

[wag220 0]

I also have 1989 523 dxi , and I have a similar problem, although I'm sure its a blown head gasket because I overheated it while I was mulching leaves, normally I clean the screen and blow out the radiator but I guess I got a little lax , so will wait till spring to pull the head. Mine starts hard and will run ok till it warms up then it starts to miss really bad and almost wants to die. so I'm almost positive its a blown head gasket. It was always a great machine and will be again I hope.