I have seen some forms that are close to my problem but not really the same so here it goes....

I have a 2000 F250 5.4L, on cold days it will start right up but sometimes will die once, But the biggest issue is it smells like it is running really rich, there is some white smoke out the exhaust too, but runs fine, there is no check engine light on...... weird


thank you for your help in advance.....

 

How many miles? When was the last time it was tuned up?

Is the smoke white (like steam) or more bluish white (which would indicate burning oil)?

Does your truck's dipstick smell like gasoline?

 

Reford hit the most important point oil burns whitish blue.

How many miles? Do you burn any oil between changes?

 

it has 190,000 miles on it, and it uses about 1/2 qt of oil between changes

 

i guess now that you say something it is kind of bluish white smoke.. is that the rings?

 

I would guess a head gasket has failed. Rings generally are not on and off and will show more when cold.

Either way, run a compression test on the engine. I bet you have at least one cylinder down on compression.

 

Start simple...no CEL, but there may be a code stored. Go to Auto Zone and see if there IS a code. If there is, let us see if we can decipher it. I'm thinking emissions related for some strange reason, but it could be a head gasket. Find your charcoal canister and see if there's any liquid in it...

 

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If it were a failed head gasket i would think you would be having issues consistently not just on cold starts

 

No, I have seen head gaskets that seal up to a degree when the engine heats up and expands.

Other causes of massive oil burning (mechanical damage, rings, valve seals) usually will not seal when the engine heats up. Minor valve or ring issues will tend to seal when hot but if it is bad then probably not.

I would start with a compression test and a leak down test of the engine.

 

Dont mean to hijack but i do oil changes every 4.5-5k miles and i usually put in about 2 quarts to maintain the max spot on the dipstick. is this more than above average oil usage?