Chevrolet Repair: hard start, fuel pressure regulator, vacuum hose

Question
van, I have a 98 Chevy 2500 with the 454. When I start the truck it takes along time to fire. Once it fires smoke pores out of the exhaust pipe. Then clears out. I was told this is called hard start. What can I do to help my truck to start up normally? Thanks  Mat

Answer
Hi Matt,
I believe the other name for it is heat soak.
Sounds like when you shut it off, the injectors are leaking, and the residual fuel pressure is dumped into the engine, in other words, flooding it.
Good clean injectors should keep that from happening.
I would try running some injector cleaner thru it, but having the injectors professionally cleaned and tested may be required.
A ruptured diaphragm in the fuel pressure regulator is a remote possibility, but easy to check. Check the vacuum hose to the regulator for raw fuel.

Van