Howdy, I'm having a problem with my Ranger. when i start my truck at any time of the day when the engine is Cold i get a large amount of smoke like clouds coming from my exhaust pipe, it is a white/light gray color with a sweet scent to it, this has been happening for about a month but is getting worse, it goes away after the engine heats up to normal temps. i have been burning a unusually large amount of coolant for this past month, maybe a quart every week. i have no loss of power, no rough running, no misfires, but it has been at a low idle of about 500 RPM's whenever i come to a stop. i have the 4.0 V6 A/T with 120,000 miles. i was hoping for some type of help or to be pointed in the right direction, maybe its something i can fix at home, i sure would like to save as much money as possible.

Thanks!!

 

sounds like a head gasket or cracked head. check your oil and see if theres any signs of coolant.

 

common problem on the 4.0 do a leak down test and it will tell you if em gaskets are bad i say thay are. may need new heads too

 

i agree, it's a head/head gasget issue, but, this issue MAY be as simple as you head bolts aren't tight, check the torque on them, to make sure they are all to spec, if they are, pull em off and see if it's a head gasget... leak down testers are expensive... head gasgets aren't all that much... and you are going to need them to fix this problem either way...

it could also be a cracked block... had the engine freeze with water only, in the radiator? or gone for a swim with a warm block?

 

i would agree with redrocket.

 

Maybe a bad intake manifold gasket.

 

If you have cracked heads look at it like this....It is a good time to up grade to performance heads...... if they make them for the 4.0.

 

leak down testers are cheap 20.00 at the parts store. you can even do loan a tool on em

yeah at a thousand dollars a pop for a set

 

i have checked my oil when it was cold and then after warmed up and found no sign of any other substance but Oil, is there a chance that maybe it could be a bad Catalytic Converter? if it is a cracked head or a major problem like that where would i go to buy new parts so i can fix it?

 

no, it's not your cat, you have coolant loss, and the smell of coolant in your exhaust, along with steam... you can get heads at most parts stores, but i would try to get them from a JY, make sure you get a vehicle with rear end damage, that way it wasn't junked because of a bunk motor, and the vehicle damage isn't a factor in the motor...

 

OHV or SOHC?
Chances are you either have a blown head gasket or cracked head. In the even that you have to do a head gasket job, check between the intake and exhaust valves for cracks when you pull the heads. Have the heads magnafluxed. If they are both shot, save yourself the trouble and get two brand new heads. You can have a machine shop swap out your valves and valve springs depending on there condition.