'99 4.0 ranger pouring white smoke!!

[mb3offroadr]

I just got back from a 2 week vacation (while my truck sat at home), and when I started my truck, it just poured out white smoke or steam from the exhaust. For about the last year, the #3 and #4 spark plugs have fouled about 3 times each causing the check engine light to come on.. Also I have added about 2 gallons of coolant to the system in the last year. Its starting to sound to me like a blown head gasket, but the #3 and #4 cylinders are on opposite sides of the engine. And my truck only has 76,000 miles on it, if that makes any difference. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Mat

 

[snake]

At least a blown gasket, maybe cracked head. I would be looking at replacing the engine with a junkyard unit- cheaper in the long run. You can find a cheap low mileage unit at www.car-part.com

 

[mwood1985]

engine

ok ill chime in with experience on this exact situation and my experience with car-part.com. my buddy todd had the same problem you do. motor started pouring white smoke one day in his 98 ranger 4x4, i found him a new 4.0 ohv motor on car-part.com from a 98 explorer 2wd at tims auto parts in sumter sc we got a motor for 500 bucks with 62k on the clock. got it swapped and the difference is amazing. the old motor was a dog no power it would fall on its face when you tried to pull anything with the truck. the new motor is a complete 180. not to say it should be done for safetys sake but it will break the tires loose on a wet road at 50 mph plus.

a few weeks before my transmission in my 01 went out. i found one using car-part in blacksburg sc at carguts for 300 bucks. it went in flawlessly and came from an 01 explorer sport 4x4.
im not sure what it is about the engine he got and my trans coming from an explorer but the explorer parts seem geared for moving the heavier explorer and really make a world of difference in the Ranger. mine pulls like a mack truck not like a ranger. his has almost as much power as my sohc engine the 98 engine dyno'ed at 187 hp to mines 207. both of us are extreamly happy with using carpart.com and to tell you the truth it brought is alot closer as friends by working on each others trucks. go find you a new motor i promise you will be satisfied with what you find

 

[JohnnyO]

White smoke = steam = burning water = blown head gasket.

 

[AllanD]

White smoke = steam = burning water = blown head gasket.

Typical headgasket leaks on a 4.0 are "overboard" leaks (usually right rear of the engine) or "internal", mimicking a leaking lower intake manifold.

white smoke is a classic symptom of a crack in the combustion chamber.

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[cappin90]

im having the same issue, i just ran some rad/head seal stuff through it and since then ive only had to add coolant once in 5k miles, should help her survive a little longer if you need it to.