I have a 1999 Explorer 4.0 OHV automatic with 96,000 miles. I recently replaced the head gaskets and had the heads gone over by a machine shop. The reassembly seemed to go well, but when I first started it after I finished, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust like it was still burning coolant, but it didn't smell like coolant, it smelled almost like smoke from a welder. After a few minutes of running the smoke stopped. I hava driven it, and it doesn't smoke and the oil looks clean, so I think everything is sealed. The problem is that it has no power. It idles fine when starting cold, but after it starts to warm up, it begins to run rough and is worse when in gear. It can only get up to about 45 and it takes awhile to get there, occassionally having a rotten egg smell. The plugs and wires are new and I believe all of the vacuum lines are in place. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or ideas on this.

Thanks

 

The rotten egg smell is usually a clue that your cat. convertor may be on the way out. When these fail, they let less exhaust gas escape and cause the acceleration problems you mentioned.

This would be completely unrelated to the head gasket work you just did. It seems strange that it would just start happening now.

 

I'll check the converter, Thanks for the advice.

 

Did you get the recalls fixed? my engine was running real rough unitl i got the intake manifold and the cam tensioner done