Smokes when idling

[Macamon]

man, I just think this freaking car is a lemon. I'm ready to go back to Ford, it's less problems!!!!!

I have put over a ****ing thousand dollars into trying to get this car running (thanks haters for all your help finding a ****ing good mech in Los Angeles) One bonehead was telling me I need to check my timing set when he hadn't even tracked my vacuum hoses (there were big problems there) I got it past the last smog by putting a new cat on it and she passed. Knowing it still wasn't running right I took it to another tech, he shoved the smog sniffer up the tailpipe and declared "eet siems to be ruuning good" A third tech (the one that found the vacuum probz) But it still smells horrible when running, has low power and terrible gas milage. To top it off, white smoke pours out of the tailpipe when I allow it to idle too long

HELP OR KICK ME OUT OF THE FORUM!!!!!

NO HATER REPLIES THANKS!!!!

[Exille]

head gasket maybe? do a compression test, if its below 130 (?) you have a blown head gasket, white smoke usually means you have water getting into you cylinders, also, uncap your radiator, start your car, then look into you radiator and watch for bubbles, that also means you could have a blown headgasket

[keith1k]

If your car smokes when left idling it's caused by leaking valve stem seals.This is an easy fix any good tech can do this with the head left on the vehicle for around 4 hours worth of labor. Parts should be under 50 bucks.

If your car smokes while driving i.e. putting a load on it, this would point to worn piston rings.

Head gasket problems would be a running hot problem with white smoke pouring from the tail pipe. coolant lose would also be evident.

I hope this helps.

[Saltman]

What engine do you have? What oil do you use? I have an SR and i use Mobile 1 synthetic. I had the same problem but it turned out to be my turbo and the oil was leaking through and whenever i drove and then stopped and had it idleing, it would pour out white smoke like a smoke stack from the exhaust.

[S14KoukiMonster]

MORE INFO NEEDED- What year? What ENG? Any mods? BE AS SPECIFIC AS YOU CAN BE WHEN DESCRIBING YOUR PROBLEM; you only described your problem in the last 2 sentences of your rant-filled post. I'll check this later to see if you've defined your problem a bit more clearly, cause at this point it's a waste of anyone's time.

What keith1k said is BASICALLY true, but DEFINATELY not that "cut and dry"

PS- I used to work for Ford and their cars SUCK(trucks are good though). What ford car could you get that's better than a 240 for the cash? NONE HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nissan---> <---Ford cars

[S14KoukiMonster]

PS- I'm not trying to be a prick!!!!!! LOL I WILL try to help.

[Macamon]

I thought this died on the vine with no replies. The engine is the standard 2400cc with dohc (no turbo). I use Chevron 10w40 oil, the smoke is however a faint white smoke pouring out of the exhaust and has a weird smell not your typical oil or coolant smell. There is no liquid coming from the exhaust, no oil emulsification in the radiator. This only occurs when it sits idling for an extended period of time. Never under load never simply driving but It does seem to be running rich, and when I have the top down, as I come to a stop the exhaust has an almost knoxious odor. I have no noticeable loss of fluids (however my reservoir IS held together with BLUE TAPE) No mods on this engine whatsoever. When the car didn't pass smog we spent about 3 hours trying to figure out the vacuum hoses that were placed behind the power plant.

THANKS GUYS!