The other day I was driving my Ranger after it got out of the shop getting inspected and emmisions. Anyways it drove great for about 40 or so miles and I was going off an exit ramp when I heard a clunk noise, my first reaction was to look back to see if i hit something and i couldnt see a darn thing. There was a large cloud of white smoke behind me. I had no idea what to do so I drove home about 10 miles with the white smoke pouring out of my exhaust. During my drive home i had experienced some power loss but still drivable. None of my gauges have shown an increase or decrease. Once home i checked the fluids and no milkshake oil, no oily antifreeze, but i did notice that my tranny fluid was gone and my oil level was higher then usual, it came up 2 words on the dip stick. any ideas of what could be the problem here?

 

how much Antifreeze was left?
you sir, just chuffed a head gasket.

 

There is still a good amount left.
But another thing I need to mention is that when I start my truck and let it idle the white smoke doesnt pour out until I give it gas. Also I added tranny fluid when it was running and as soon as I added a quart the white smoke came out while idleing.
If it was the head gasket that went, how does it still start and it sounds normal?

 

probably isn't a head gasket then. I actually have no clue what kind of smoke burning Tranny fluid produces. sounds like you may have a leak in a trans cooler line. probably somewhere over your engine/exhaust.

 

hmmm, well right now i just hope for anything but a blown head. i know from experience that that is an expensive repair. just a month ago i blew the head on my mothers 03 taurus and that was pricey. . but i guess i will find out soon, i just drove it 5 miles down the road to a garage to get looked at. it was a strange ride, i had to gas it to about 3000 rpms for it to catch and start going. and there were also a bunch of clunking. i just i can afford the fix haha.
thanks for your time, ill be sure to post the exact problem if one is ever diagnosed.

 

Head gasket

 

check your vaccum modulator on the side of the transmision, if it went bad it will suck all the tranny fluid into the engine and it will cause a lot of smoking. i just had to fix mine a couple weeks ago.

 

Yes! Rangertamer that was it, automatic transmission vacuum modulator value. It was a cheap fix. The guy from the garage called me an hour a go and told me what it was. And it took7 quarts of tranny fluid.

 

im glad it was an easy fix.

 

Out yes me too. I'm so shocked oh how something the size of a shot glass can cause so much havoc.

 

yeah i know, good thing you decided to check into it and get it fixed, because eventually it would of done some tranny damage, and with the tranny fluid going into the engine, that could do some damage.

 

well unfortunately im back again, my truck has been acting up again. but this time no smoke, its having shifting problems. ill be driving and it takes a long time to get out of i believe it is second gear. it will accelerate fine but will never shift, the RPM's go up near red lining and i have to let off the gas and some times when i let go and gas it again it will shift. ive been looking online and ive seen things about the tranny modulator but it was just replaced, any ideas? could it be the wrong modulator, do they just take some amount of time to break in?

 

well your vaccum line that hooks up to the modulator might of came off, because if the vaccum line is probably a little worn out and didnt fit tight on there. that would be the first place i would check. mine kept coming off so i put it back on and put a zip tie around it.

 

yea and check your tranny fluid level make sure it is filled correctly.