04 explorer smoking like crazy!!!!

[jackndelphine]

Hi everyone. I just picked up a 04 explorer with a 4.0 SOHC and 76k miles on it, the problem I am having is that the truck will barely start unless I play with the gas pedal, then it barely idles and pours white smoke out of the tailpipe, and yes I thought, its a headgasket, but then I smelled the smoke and with the large amount of smoke you would think if it were antifreeze you would smell it, but you don't. It smell like a strange burning scent, I can't figure it out. Anyway, while all of that is going on, the truck is missing so bad the engine looks like its gonna jump out of the engine compartment. I tried pulling individual plug wires off the coils while it was running to narrow down which cylinders were missing and I got 3 dead cylinders (spark from coil but no change in idle), but 2 on 1 side of the engine and 1 on the other, so that kinda ruled out my head gasket theory plus the fact its not overheating and the oil is clean. So far the things I have done. I checked the compression in all cylinders, they were all around 150psi, I swapped the plugs, the ones that were in it were so fouled with carbon they wouldnt even fire. I checked with a sparkplug test light to see if the spark was making it from the coils to the plugs and it is. I also checked the new plugs and they look like they have a light coating of oil on all of them. If it were only the ones that were missing, then I would say ok, the engine is shot, but it is every one of them. One other thing I noticed is when I put my hand over the tailpipe while it was running, it sucked my hand to the tailpipe then blew it away, I know from working on old cars, that usually indicates valve problems. So that leads me to another question, I heard the timing chain rattleing when it was running, and I am well aware of the defect with the tensioner guide, so if that timing chain loosened up and jumped teeth, could this be whats causing my problem?? Or could I have a bad intake manifold gasket, clogged cats?? The truck is a stolen recovery, maybee they beat the crap out of it and killed the engine?? I am not sure anymore, I dont want to condemn the truck and get rid of it if it is something stupid like a intake gasket or EGR valve, any help would be appreciated.----Thanks, Jack

 

[IZwack]

Since you heard the timing chain rattling, the tensioner cassete(s) probably need to be replaced anyway so I'd start there since that will eliminate any possibilities with the timing (since you have to go to TDC on cyl #1 and match the crankshaft with a special tool).

 

[BobWiersema]

Hmmmm.......
Compression looks good enough that I wouldn't think timing chain.
What about a bad PCV open and sucking oil in?
Was there gas in it when you got it? or did you fill it up?
Just thinking about the gas, sounds like your burning diesel with all that smoke and plug fouling.


Just a few ideas.

 

[jackndelphine]

Yea, I am not gonna do a job as big as change the timing chain cassettes, if I don't even know if the engine is any good. Its just too much work for me to do to that thing. And yea, it does almost sound like I am running diesel but I know its gasoline because when I was checking the compression I only disabled the ignition by pulling the harness off the coil pack, so unburned gas was all over the other plugs when I pulled them. I am pretty sure it has enough gas in it, I was able to run it for quite a while and it didnt run out. I will check the PCV valve today and see whats up with that. You know what the exhaust smells like? It smells like when you do that fuel system cleaning with the car running and you put it in through a vaccuum line and it smokes like hell and smell likes carbon, thats a lot what the exhaust smoke smells like when the truck is running. Anyway I will check that stuff out. The only other thing I can think of is it has a burnt valve, but it still doesnt really explain the fouling plugs and the crazy smoke.----Jack

 

[easy2no]

I know this may sound crazy but have you checked the spark plug wiring to the plugs... One or two put on the wrong plugs could make it do the things you discribe...

 

[97awdx]

The only other thing I can think of is it has a burnt valve, but it still doesnt really explain the fouling plugs and the crazy smoke.----Jack

My guess would be diesel fuel too. My wife's grandmother filled her new caravan with diesel, it ran like crap, but it ran and boy did that thing smoke. I ended up sucking the tank out. That would explain the oil on the plugs, the smoke, and the rough running. Might want to pump the tank and fill it with premium fuel and some Seafoam.

 

[bisjoe]

Someones new driver kid might have used the green pump, I have heard of this happening a lot. The people decided to sell it thinking they ruined the engine. Perhaps to get it running they drained some but not all and refilled with gas, so you just have to get the rest of it out. Look for a local place that can do a lab test on a sample, to make sure.

 

[bobrock168]

Help does anyone has smelled the tailpipe smoke like dynamaid before ?

Hi everyone the problem I am having is that the tailpipe I smelled the smoke ,its like dynamaid I thought, its a headgasket, so I chack the coolen,everything is find , and it's drives find,and no any code comes out,everything is find exp smelled the tailpipe smoke like dynamaid ,does anyone has the same problem before??

Thank U everybody