White smoke from exhaust + choppy acceleration

callaway · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:09 am

Have a '94 cougar that's developed some problems.

The cars been sitting in the driveway since Thursday, went to start this morning and noticed lots of white smoke billowing out of the exhaust. Upon accelerating the smoke screen increases ( this does look really cool with the dual exhaust tho :twisted:

). It's not a black smoke, not a gray smoke, its white.

Took it around the block and accelerating is very choppy - not smooth as all like it should be. When idling the car 'shudders'.

Oil level looks fine.

Only thing that was done to the cougar was early last week when coolant was added.

Any thoughts as to what could be up?

Neal · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:21 am

water--intake gasket or head. when did it last overheat?

callaway · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:24 am

Don't recall it overheating... the car has a warning light for low coolant that went off early last week. This is my mom's car so when the light went off she filled the coolant.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:37 am

mmmm I think you better check it real close, sounds like a blown head gasket or ???? $$$$$$$

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:39 am

Check the engine oil too, Might be a little milky? Radiaitor fluid (Water or coolant) in it? HEAD GASKET is BLOWN

callaway · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:39 am

Made an appointment for tomorrow at the mechanic. Is it safe to drive like this?

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:51 am

callaway wrote:

Made an appointment for tomorrow at the mechanic. Is it safe to drive like this?

Just watch the Odometer. The Miles turn to Dollars. Watch then add up if you keep driving it like that.

Getting water in places where water is not supposed to be.

mrkake · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 2:58 pm

I agree with Woody. Probably safe to drive to the shop but that's about it. It might be something simple, but if you've got a blown head gasket or something, you want that fixed before you log anymore miles.

Post up when you get a diagnosis. I always get curious about stuff like this.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 8:18 pm

yeah, i think its white smoke if you are burning coolant and black smoke if you are burning oil. I've had 3 blown head gaskets on 3 different vehicles. My advise is if the car is old and you don't care about it get rid of it. The head could be warped or cracked, the block could be cracked. If your oil looks like a brown cow (mix pop and milk) then you've got coolant in your engine oil.

callaway · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 8:49 pm

Well took the car in - will get a definitive answer tomorrow.
First guess by mechanic if anywhere from $$$$$ to $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ =/

looks like the end of the cougar

Guest · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 11:19 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie Sez:

YOU WANT TO GIVE THUNDERBIRDJUNKIE SAID COUGAR.

Bettin' it's a 3.8. Is he correct?

He has a 5.0 ready for a fresh rebuild...

callaway · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 12:05 am

it's a 4.6 v8 :twisted:

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 12:26 am

Intake manifold. Take it back from the shop and replace it yourself.

Judging from what you've done to the CJ, you can easily do this in an afternoon with a lot of cussing and beer.

Or ThunderbirdJunkie will gladly take it off your hands:D

BTW...Dorman makes an aftermarket "improved" intake with a lifetime warranty. Check with a Parts Plus store.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 12:51 am

callaway wrote:

it's a 4.6 v8 :twisted:

Oh the t-stat horrors :twisted:

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 12:53 am

Yes, Troy, yes! What a horrible piece of junk!

He should just unload it to the first sucker with a U haul tow dolly behind a certain bad-ass blue KJ :lol:

callaway · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 5:45 pm

UPDATE

So the mechanic just called - said the head gasket is fine, no cracked cylinders, everything is as it should be.

But, the computer went haywire ( darn computers ) and was shooting gas wherever it felt. The car was chugging thanks to the computer telling the car to misfire.

Does this seem plausible ?

Total cost will only be $$$ as opposed to $$$$$$$.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 11:33 pm

Doesn't sound plausible to ThunderbirdJunkie. Sounds like they're blowing smoke (lol?)

Yes, an overly rich condition will cause smoke...but not the white smoke you described. There is something causing the ECM to send more fuel than needed to the engine. If an ECM goes bad, it just quits working 99.9999% of the time, not do crazy shizzit. Did you personally check the coolant level?

Do not worry, ThunderbirdJunkie will show up at this shop, pay your diag fee, and drag the car home at no cost to you :lol:

callaway · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 11:42 pm

i checked the coolant after it started smoking and everything looked ok.

Parents made the decision to side with the mechanic - they're swapping in a new computer thinking that will do it

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 11:43 pm

At what cost :shock:

Is this a new, used, or remanned computer?

callaway · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 pm

refurb'd. Think the total was going to be in the $400 range.

Will be interesting to see what issues come to the surface after the new comp goes in

White smoke from exhaust + choppy acceleration

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