HOLY SMOKE! Please help....

[ZangMtns]

Was driving my 93 FZJ80 with 177xxx miles on the interstate at about 60 mphs, and out of no where i feel a little power loss, look in my rear view and i just ****ped out the biggest cloud of white/blueish smoke EVER! Let off the gas, smoke went away and "the beast" kept driving fine. Drove home from work (20 miles on interstate) and never had a problem. Topped off the oil yesterday, and was driving in town around 40 mph, and suddenly a HUGE cloud of smoke again! So bad, the car behind slammed on the brakes unable to see...Did some thread searches, couldn't find any to conclusive. Is this a stuck/bad PCV valve? Should I be worried about some serious engine damage? Really strapped for cash after just moving 2,000 miles, any recommendation for mechanics in the Tampa Bay Area to help me out would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[azrider]

can cruisers get hairballs??

 

[Beowulf]

Is this a stuck/bad PCV valve?

I suppose this is possible and the PCV valve + grommet are relatively easy to replace; just be careful that you don't drop the grommet pieces down into the valve cover. While you are replacing this you might as well replace the PCV hose because it is certain to be hard and brittle unless it was replaced in the recent past.

More than likely you have a blown or failing head gasket. Check for bubbles in the coolant. You need to determine the source of the exhaust smoke.

-B-

 

[jlg32281]

I would go get the "block tester" from autozone to know if it's a blown head gasket. Then I would check the PCV.

 

[Grench]

OK.. I'll bite. What is a "block tester"? Is it a cylinder leak down or what? Got a picture?

 

[ZangMtns]

can't say I have heard of one....should I do a cylinder test?

 

[retrofive]

"block test" AKA "sniffer", believe you can get one on loan from some auto stores. From what I know a simple little guy with die that you hover over the rad with the cap off, the die will change color if HG corrupt..... or something like that.

 

[jlg32281]

"block test" AKA "sniffer", believe you can get one on loan from some auto stores. From what I know a simple little guy with die that you hover over the rad with the cap off, the die will change color if HG corrupt..... or something like that.

A block tester test for exhaust gases in the coolant system. The most common way for a exhaust gases in the coolant system is because the HG has failed. The other two ways is through a cracked block or head. It's the fail safe way to know if the head gasket is blown. The desciption of the tool is pretty good. It's a tube that you put some blue liquid in and it pulls air from the radiator through the liquid. If there are exhaust gases in the coolant, blue turns to yellow. If not, nothing happens. I know Autozone has one on their loaner program with a deposit of $20.