White smoke

Tiny
BILLCASH2112
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD RANGER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 125,000 MILES
Replaced coil and spark plugs and wires, less than 10,000 miles later and number 2 went out. Replaced spark plug wires and coil pack and now it blows white smoke. And ideas about what would cause this? And if its a gasket?
Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 AT 7:55 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
SQM
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,383 POSTS
Hello,

Does the white smoke has a 'sweet' smell to it? If so it means the engine is burning coolant.

Here is a helpful article on white smoke:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/white-smoke-or-steam-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

This can happen by one for four ways the most popular failures is a blown head gasket which can be tested for.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

https://youtu.be/5zpNjYmmiYY

Additional causes include a cracked cylinder head or engine block or the intake manifold gasket failure. Many times you will get white smoke if the engine overheats.

Please let me know what you find or if you need any additional information.

Thank you.
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
BILLCASH2112
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  • 6 POSTS
So I never overheated and I have replace everything but spark plugs. Could the white smoke be just it misfiring for awhile then back spark?
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Friday, July 23rd, 2021 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
BILLCASH2112
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
It now throws error codes p0302 and p0303.
Miss's on 2 and 3?
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Friday, July 23rd, 2021 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
BILLCASH2112
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  • 6 POSTS
I swapped 2 and 3 and the above happened with white smoke but went down to a little smoke.
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Friday, July 23rd, 2021 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
BILLCASH2112
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Could this be an injector 2 or 3 issue?
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Friday, July 23rd, 2021 AT 2:09 PM
Tiny
SQM
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,383 POSTS
For the code P0302 and P0303 are typically for ignition systems (i.E Spark plugs or coils).
It would be a reasonable to step to get the plugs changed.
Did the plugs have white residue on them?
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Friday, July 23rd, 2021 AT 10:46 PM
Tiny
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  • 6 POSTS
I will replace the 2 spark plugs today. The only other thing is the injectors.
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Saturday, July 24th, 2021 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

White smoke is an indication of burning coolant. If you had a misfire on a cylinder, you would have black smoke.

I would have a leak-down test done on each cylinder to see if it is the head gasket leaking. You remove the spark plugs and add shop air into each cylinder and watch for bubbles in the radiator assembly.

The truck does not have to overheat to have a failed head gasket.

Roy
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Monday, July 26th, 2021 AT 5:36 AM

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