Help Please: Burning Alot Of Oil, White Smoke

[BuiltRangerTough04]

Hey everyone, I need help. I own a 2004 Ford Ranger 3.0 Liter V6. I have to put in at least a quart of oil in a week because it burns so fast. There is also white smoke and some black smoke coming out of my exhaust. I ran my chip on the engine and it popped up P0172 and that has somthing to do with my O2 Sensor. I dont know if the O2 Sensor will cause me to burn more oil and put out alot of smoke though. Somebody please give me some idea.

 

[bigcountry]

the o2 sensor has nothing to do with how much oil you are buring. are u leaking oil? how hard do u drive ur truck to get an 04 to burn that much oil? sounds like its bout time to think about an engine overhaul if ur not leaking it then its internal oil burning like piston rings. but check for oil leaks under the hood and on the ground.

 

[TomB1269]

I would suggest pulling your plugs. Lots of oil loss, white smoke is liquid (steam), black smoke is to rich, a PO172 code is to rich a mixture. Sounds as if you may have lost a head gasket. Your plugs can help start to tell if you lost a head gasket as well as a compression check.

 

[Rifleman]

Oil smoke is thick grey with a blueish tint. A failed primary O2 will cause the engine to operate irratically due to the fact it cannot properly adjust the fuel to air ratio for a proper burn. Do not run the vehicle like this, when it is running rich, raw fuel gets dumped into the exhaust and will ruin the cats.

 

[AllanD]

While smoke can also be oil smoke, if there is a badly gouged
cylinder wall, cracked piston, etc... and oil is getting into the
cylinder AFTER the power stroke...

The color of oil smoke is dependant of WHEN the oil gets into the engine.

White smoke is the worst kind and most indicative of an "immediate" problem.



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[Kyle 99Ranger]

Have you or anyone else done head work on your truck. This sounds like you blew a head gasket allowing water into the cylinder(s) which will give you the white smoke (steam really). After a very short time you will burn up your piston rings and damage the cylinder wall because the water will displace the oil and there goes your lubrication. That is when you start going through oil, the oil will leak by into the combustion chamber and burned then right out the exhaust pipe, which is where you would be getting the darker smoke. The water is also HORRIBLE on bearings so my suggestion would be... Deffinetly STOP running the engine. Try pulling all the spark plugs then have someone turn it over for you. If it is a blown head gasket and it is bad enough you will see water come out (might look like mist). Or try finding a shop that will loan or rent you a bore scope, it is a small usually maneuverable camera that will fit just fine through the spark plug holes where you could then probably spot precisely where the leak is from the inside... Either way... Get ready to spend some cash!

Best of luck,
Kyle