Military Vehicle Repair: M1009 CUCV, m1009 cucv, brake master cylinder

Question
Van,

 Thank you very much for your rapid reply. Do you think the blue smoke could be related to the mutiple start attempts or could it be something more sinister?

Thanks again,
Shawn

P.S. I did not want to make this a private question, but it made it one anyway.
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Followup To
Question -
 I am considering purchasing a 1984 CUCV that the owner states has "very" low mileage (1000).  He also stated that it takes him two to three times to get the vehicle started and it blows "blue" smoke until it is warmed up.
 I have never owned a diesel powered vehicle, but have driven CUCVs in the military.  The vehicle is cosmetically in good condition.  What is your take?
Answer -
Hi Shawn,
I have about six 1008's in my fleet now. I have had 1009's, and other mil vehicles.
It sounds like maybe a glowplug or two might not be working. They are easy to test, easy to replace, not super expensive.
The relay sometimes is a problem, especially if it is the little black plastic one. It is right beside the brake master cylinder. With a test light, see if power is getting to the orange wires after the key is turned to run, and the engine cold.
I have found a relay from a parts house that works great.

Generally, that 6.2 will take a lot of punishment and keep going, as well as the rest of the truck.

Van

Answer
I think the blue smoke is unburned fuel. The glow plugs can cause it, or the injector pump advances during cold warmup, and will also cause some.
Pretty normal, really.

You can check the glow plugs by removing the wire plugged to each glow plug, one at a time.
Then connect a 12 volt test light clip to the positive stud on the firewall....the diamond shaped thing by the glow plug relay. That is 12 volts, not 24.

(By the way...almost every single thing on the truck...lights, alternators, blower motor, etc...everything is 12 volt EXCEPT the starter motor and solenoid. They are the only 24 volt items)

OK...you have the tester clip connected to 12 volt Positive. Now touch the tester tip to the glow plug that the wire is unhooked from. (Touch the tip to ground somewhere first to make sure it works)
The light should light. Maybe not quite as bright as if you touched the tip to the block, or some other ground, but it should light.
If it doesn't light, the glow plug is bad. (Glow plugs are 13G I believe.)
If it lights on each and every glow plug, then the controller or relay is bad.
Check that system with the test light clip on ground, and the tip to the glow plug wires, individually,(Green wire I believe), or the orange wires. Turn the key to run, and you should have power(engine cold).

Van