White smoke

[Dazzleruss]

Hey guys, newbie here to the site.

I’ve had my 4th generation ranger for just under a year. It’s been a fantastic truck since then but about a week ago my inside heaters went from hot to cold instantly, I pulled up and seen the coolant reservoir was low. Luckily I was in a place where I could leave it to cool down and once it was cold I topped it up with antifreeze, and the heaters ran normal. About a week later it did it again, I wasn’t too far from home so I drove it home and again, waited for it to cool down and topped it back. The next day on my way to work I got just round the corner from my home and I noticed quite a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust, it was early morning and it was quite cold this morning which I’m hoping may have added to so much smoke I turned back round and headed home.
I know that white smoke is a sign of a faulty head gasket but I’ve not seen any contamination in the oil, I bought a leak detection kit and carried this test out, but it didn’t really change the Chemical after being on for a good 15 minutes and also the smoking wasn’t as bad as the first time I seen it.
I’ve read that the egr cooler can give off the same symptoms? Has anyone had any experience in these faults? Or any advice? I’m currently about to check the egr cooler but if any of you know, they are in probably the worst place ??.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated please
thanks

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[TJC]

The plastic intake manifolds can warp as they age, and can cause this problem. My 2005 is doing fine, but I have heard about this issue.

I also know for a fact that the plastic thermostat housing will warp and leak at the manifold and at the top where the thermostat is housed. Mine was leaking from both places and never dripped on the ground. I had to replace mine a year or so ago. Rock Auto has the housing in aluminum with the thermostat, gaskets, and sensors for less than $40. I had to use one of the sensors from the old unit, but has given me no trouble since.

I would check this area first. Feel around for moisture running down the side of the block for rust stains.

 

[Dazzleruss]

The plastic intake manifolds can warp as they age, and can cause this problem. My 2005 is doing fine, but I have heard about this issue.

I also know for a fact that the plastic thermostat housing will warp and leak at the manifold and at the top where the thermostat is housed. Mine was leaking from both places and never dripped on the ground. I had to replace mine a year or so ago. Rock Auto has the housing in aluminum with the thermostat, gaskets, and sensors for less than $40. I had to use one of the sensors from the old unit, but has given me no trouble since.

I would check this area first. Feel around for moisture running down the side of the block for rust stains.

Nice one for advice. I have been all over the engine bay and under whilst it’s been running hoping to see some witness marks, I do have a slight moisture build up on the catalytic converter flange and it smells like engine coolant. I’ll take a picture tomorrow and upload it.

ill check the manifolds too. It’s hard to see anything in bay tbh ??

 

[TJC]

Look along the left side of the engine front (passenger side) just along and around the exhaust manifold. It will not be obvious. Run you finger around the base of the thermostat housing as well. I really could not see the problem clearly until I decided to check the thermostat itself. I removed the top and could then see the bottom mating surface.

My only symptom was antifreeze level dropping. I was looking at blown head gaskets, radiator leaks, water pump weeping, etc. It ended up being the thermostat housing.

Best of luck to you.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Sounds like a head gasket to me. You can have a pushed head gasket that leaks exhaust into the coolant passage, but not push into the oil. I have used those block testers before and I've never had one change color, even with a confirmed head gasket issue.

 

[Dazzleruss]

Sounds like a head gasket to me. You can have a pushed head gasket that leaks exhaust into the coolant passage, but not push into the oil. I have used those block testers before and I've never had one change color, even with a confirmed head gasket issue.

My first thought and still is that it’s the head gasket, it’s on 86,000 and it’s 2017 plate.
im just looking and praying for an alternative. Yeah, I’m not fully convinced with the tester kit myself. I’ll be back on it tomorrow for more inspections

 

[TJC]

You may be right. Is he seeing bubbles in the radiator or water in the oil? Or Water level rising in the overflow tank. This video shows the area to look for the leak if it is the thermostat housing... This is the most common coolant leak in the 4.0L OHC engine.

Look for the simplest fix first.

 

[Gazmic]

if you smell coolant near the catalytic converter, I'd guess it's a head gasket.
I would take a sniff at the tail pipe when you see the white smoke just to make sure the smell is in the exhaust. just to be sure.

 

[Grandaccess]

You may be right. Is he seeing bubbles in the radiator or water in the oil? Or Water level rising in the overflow tank. This video shows the area to look for the leak if it is the thermostat housing... This is the most common coolant leak in the 4.0L OHC engine.

Look for the simplest fix first.

depends on where the head gasket leaks, you dont always get water in the oil
sounds like head gasket cause thats the only reason I know of "white smoke"
and fix it before it ruins the cats that could make a bad situation much more costly

 

[TJC]

He mentioned white smoke on a cold day. Maybe clarification is needed. Is the truck pouring white smoke out the exhaust constantly?

White smoke does indicate water in the cylinder, but we are still not sure of the level of white smoke he is finding. I've had cars that had cracked cylinders, blown head gaskets, and cracked heads. I've seen milky white oil, radiators drain, and radiators boil over into the overflow tank from these issues.

When my coolant leak occurred it was severe enough to lead me to suspect the head gasket or cracked heads / block. But it was neither. Maybe he'll get back to us shortly with his findings.

But the most common coolant leak issue on 4th gen rangers with 4.0 engines is the thermostat housing.

That does not mean he does not have a more severe issue, but prudence dictates you check the most often problem first. It is a quick and easy check. If things are dry move on to thr next itrm on the list.

If it is the gasket or crack, he has much bigger issue. But like I said, I lost a lot of coolant fast and the leak was not obvious with a simple scan of the engine bay. I was confident it was a serious internal leak. As nothing ever touched the concrete under the truck.

 

[dtech]

Well it could also be a failing EGR cooler. I'd assume one could temporary disable the EGR valve and if that stops the smokin then you know. Doesn't take much coolant to make a lot of white smoke.

 

[Bobby-C]

Hey guys, newbie here to the site.

I’ve had my 4th generation ranger for just under a year. It’s been a fantastic truck since then but about a week ago my inside heaters went from hot to cold instantly, I pulled up and seen the coolant reservoir was low. Luckily I was in a place where I could leave it to cool down and once it was cold I topped it up with antifreeze, and the heaters ran normal. About a week later it did it again, I wasn’t too far from home so I drove it home and again, waited for it to cool down and topped it back. The next day on my way to work I got just round the corner from my home and I noticed quite a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust, it was early morning and it was quite cold this morning which I’m hoping may have added to so much smoke I turned back round and headed home.
I know that white smoke is a sign of a faulty head gasket but I’ve not seen any contamination in the oil, I bought a leak detection kit and carried this test out, but it didn’t really change the Chemical after being on for a good 15 minutes and also the smoking wasn’t as bad as the first time I seen it.
I’ve read that the egr cooler can give off the same symptoms? Has anyone had any experience in these faults? Or any advice? I’m currently about to check the egr cooler but if any of you know, they are in probably the worst place ??.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated please
thanks

Could be water pump, had the same issue years ago, white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. Water pump went out.

 

[Frenchy]

Also keep in mind that most vehicles will have a much of white smoke regardless on cold startup on really cold mornings/days. That usually goes until it is warmed up at the least.

As for the coolant leak, if you are not mechanically inclined I highly recommend taking it to the local mechanic shop that you trust.

 

[Dazzleruss]

Thank you guys, still a whole lot of investigation to happen, as for the white smoke on that morning, it’s was plumbs of it, I had to pull over and once the smoke caught up with me I couldn’t see until I turned the engine off, it was really quite bad, although it was early morning and colder than normal. But when I did the leak test the other day it was mid to late afternoon and it was only smoking a little and I’ve never noticed it smoking previously.

 

[KNI]

Coolant or oil leaking. Coolant is white, oil is bluish.

Since you have white smoke and low coolant, I'd say you got a coolant leak.

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