Originally Posted by eljefino
There's something about governing diesel engines that basically overfuels them until they "catch up". Avoiding this is complicated.
This was apparently an issue with the first Alco diesel locomotives, leading to a trademark black cloud until they were up to speed.
It's the same with even a modern day huge stationary diesel gen set. Occasionally we have to rent them for components at the plant. Like you say, the governors peg wide open until the engine RPMs come up on the cold engine. Sometimes oscillating full/closed/full/closed a few times. Talk about a smoke show!
In terms of the OPs little diesel gen set, The bigger gasoline powered ones, especially if it's a Kohler or Briggs V-twin can smoke more than that on a cold start.
