Help! 88 RT4WD Spewing White Smoke.

chuckshin

I was out driving earlier today doing about 70-75 on the freeway. When I got off the freeway I notice the wagon running rough like it was misfiring. I got to a light and noticed white smoke spewing out the rear end. I pulled over to check it out. White smoke smelled a little sweet and immediately thought it was the head gasket.

I checked the oil and coolant and did not see the obvious mixing of the two fluids. Got her towed home and checked the plugs to see if there was any fowling of the plugs but looked real clean. I need to go out and pick up a compression tester to see what the compression is in the cylinders.

I started her up again and she was running fine again; maybe engine cooled down. Once the wagon heated back up again she was spewing a lot of white smoke. Not so much a sweet smell anymore but more like a wood burning smell which totally threw me off.

I researched the forum to see if I can find anything but no luck and hoping you guys can help troubleshoot, diagnose or point me in the right direction in getting her back up and running as she is my D/D. That and I love her too much to see her broken down.

Thanks in advance!

503Wagon

Sounds to me like you might have a warped head, that only rears its nasty head when warm. That or the head gasket is bad and only leaks when the block gets heated up, which I have seen before.

Try block testing it and see what happens.

chuckshin

Hey 503,

Have you seem the universal block tester from NAPA? I wonder if they're any reliable or if I should take it to a shop for a full diagnose.

503Wagon

chuckshin wrote: »

Hey 503,

Have you seem the universal block tester from NAPA? I wonder if they're any reliable or if I should take it to a shop for a full diagnose.

Shop will use just that! I manage a Firestone here in Oregon and that is exactly what we use. They're pretty easy to use and are pretty dang accurate.

chuckshin

Okay, I might as well pick one of these up when I go and pick up a compression tester.

Thanks, 503.

503Wagon

no problem man, let me know how that goes.

chuckshin

I've never done a head gasket replacement and wanted to confirm what all I would need to get her up and running correctly.

What I can think of so far are the following.

Head Gasket; part #12251-PM5-502 (1)
Intake Gasket; part #18115-P00-004 (2)
Exhaust Gasket; part #17105-P00-T03 (1)
Head Bolts; part #9005-PM3-003 (10)

Also, while I'm at it I figure I replace the following as well:

Water Pump; part #19200-P01-004
Timing Belt; part #14400-PM6-004
Tensioner; part #14510-PM7-004
Dist O-Ring; part #30110-PA1-732
Injector seals (4); 2 look to be leaking a little; part #16472-P10-A01

Any further input would be great appreciated.

Thanks,
Chuck

503Wagon

suggest getting the head pressure checked and decked. Any local machine shop can do it. Valve cover gasket as well. Suggest new plugs. If you've ever wanted to rebuild a head, nows the time to do it. New valve springs, retainers, get the seats ground.

Really all depends on how far you want to take it.