I have a 94 Ranger 4 cylinder, 5 speed, that smokes bad when I first start it but won't do it if I park facing downhill unless it is really cold. If it is warm it will do it if I park level or uphill. The smoke is white and seems to be steam but I am not sure. Is there a sensor that might cause this kind of problem? How can I read the error codes from the ECU without a code scanner?

Thanks for the help.

 

Welcome to FTE!

A lot of white smoke at startup is generally not a good thing. It often means that coolant is getting into the cylinders, usually as a result of a failed headgasket or a cracked head. It could be that the way you park is affecting how much coolant is seeping into the cylinder(s). Does it stumble at startup?

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but that's my honest impression. Maybe some of the 4-banger guys can offer you some other possibilities. In the meantime, check your dipstick and look in the oil fill hole to see if there is any foaming or thickening of the oil. If it's a failed gasket, the coolant will often mix in with the oil. "Chocolate milkshake" is often used to describe the effect that coolant has when mixed with oil and run through an engine.

Good luck.

 

In the tech info thread at the top of the forum has aa link called "pulling eec-iv codes" that will help for the error codes.

 

I had a simular problem with my probe I had. Check this have some one else start your truck see if the smoke when you start it is black and then turns a really light grey. My 93 probe smoked when I first start it and I thought it was white till I investigated for a couple of days. Is the truck hard to start when its been siting?? This is what I figured out on my probe the motor is fluding on the first start due to a stuck injector. Buy a goos brand of injector cleaner dump it in the truck for a couple of tanks and see if it helps. I also I a code come up saying it was running to rich so try this.

 

Thanks for the input guys. There is no sign at all of oil in the coolant and it seems temperature makes a differance. When I started it this morning after a cold night (25 degrees) it smoked bad but after about 5 minutes when it warmed up,, NO SMOKE. It starts easily and runs fine. I have heard a ping occasionally if that might help figure this out.

 

It it consuming coolant with no leak visible?

 

Take the truck and have the coolant system pressure checked. Most auto stores will do it for free, thinking you will need too buy a part. Good luck!

 

I have a 91 Ranger 2.3 that was losing coolant and for 4 years couldnt figure it out what it was. Finally after having to replace the exhaust manifold, I noticed a heavy amount of gunked up nasty antifreeze that had seeped out around the frost plugs. After replacing those I havent had the first problem with antifreeze.

 

My '94 also smokes really bad. Not so much since I've moved to sunny Oklahoma from frigid Michigan. Last winter was the worst. There were some mornings my truck smoked so bad that I was embarassed to be seen with it! Lots more than just "a puff" or two. A couple of times (when it was really cold and very little wind) my neighbor 3 houses down complained...oh well I said...sorry.

I haven't done a whole lot of investigating, I have assumed that it was valve seals and not much more. I don't lose very much antifreeze (maybe a pint every year) and my oil never shows any sign of water (and I change it myself every ~3000 miles). If it is water that is causing this...then I guess I would have to ask for some more details describing what happens and how you can tell that water is leaking into the combustion chamber...without taking off the head or any other "major" feets.

 

Is the smoke white?

 

it appears to be white,, definately not black,, perhaps a little grey,, smells but not sure if it smells like fuel or oil.

 

Same question still stands. We're wondering about coolant in the oil. Also, be aware that repeated short trips in cold weather may not warm up the engine enough to drive off all condensation. Treat the truck to a 30 minute drive once a week to fully warm up the engine and drive off this moisture.

 

I drive it daily to work which is about 15 miles. There is no sign of coolant in the oil but it was low on coolant when I checked it. After the smoke clears which is usually about 2 or 3 mintues I see the normal condensation from the exhaust. The smoke I am talking about is a huge cloud that dissipates very slowly. Could the engine coolant sensor or the intake air sensor be causing a fuel mixture problem? If its oil,,, valve guides possibly?