92es300man

I have a persistent issue with my 1992 ES300 (161K miles) whereby white smoke coming from exhaust and major fuel loss with gas in the oil -- plus running horrible. I was informed by some that it was a blown head gasket and/or warped head. I alread had the back head off and after planing and a valve job, there is ticking from the back head and some smoke coming from the back of the engine -- ?? -- not sure about this --- maybe needed a thicker head gasket after the head planing ??? -- any insights here?

From my research, my gut feeling is that it is either a "stuck open" fuel injector and/or a bad ECU. Since I am an EE, I'm going to open the ECU and see what I find. I have spent way too much money listening to "experts" and am desperately trying to fix the car myself this time. I plan on pulling the ECU out and checking it out tomorrow AM. I'll let you know what I find.

BTW -- I did get the codes by shorting pins E1 and TE1 on the diag port and obtained a 24 (IAT sensor) and 32 (Airflow meter). Upon further research, I found that one of the pins on the MAF sensor was pushed back. Repaired the connector by pusing the wire back into the connector. Still need to verify Intake Air Temp sensor functionality -- any insights from the experts out there? The MIL is not on and no codes at this time.

On the same vehicle, it is overheating. Lower radiator hose is not hot while the top one is --- suspect stuck closed thermostat and/or clogged radiator. After replacing the thermostat, it is running a little cooler (lower radiator now hotter than before), but still overheating. Suspect the radiator is clogged . . . will look into that today.

12340987

You can listen to the injectors with a mechanics stethoscope, or long screwdriver, or just feel them.

You did your rear head gasket yourself and not the front? I think I may have a bad front head gasket, what was it like to replace?

Gas in the oil - doesn't seem likely, as I don't see how that's possible. Coolant can get in the oil. Overheating+milky oil+white smoke=classic head gasket failure, but it does sound like you have a clogged radiator.

ES3_Ray

Im going to put my money on a blown head gasket.

the white smoke most likely means you're burning coolant during the combustion process, overheating could mean a bad thermostat which in turn could have induced the bad headgasket with excessive heat+pressure. i think the clearest indication is the white smoke along with the fuel mixing with the oil. the 100% telltale sign is if you see oil and coolant mixing. another thing you can do is a compression test, the pressures should be up near 180PSI for a good motor. 150-160PSI is low...anything lower than 150 is a sign your motor is bad from either piston rings, headgasket, or valves.

another thought: fuel in the oil, could indicate VERY worn piston rings...do a compression test.

92es300man

Ok ... here is an update -- replacing the ECM with aother one that I acquired from the junk yard for $50 resolved the missing, gas in oil, white smoke.

Regarding the overheating issue . . . replaced both the thermostat and the radiator --- still overheating after only a few minutes of idling. My bet is the water pump is bad (clogged and or broken fins). Got a new one today and will be replacing it shortly.

ES3_Ray

wow, good find!

ecm going bad is a rare thing to see

12340987

But... How is that possible?

maliko

Had the same problem. Head gaskets were blown and ECM burned out. I replaced the engine and the ECM. Car runs like new right now.

ztitans1

I would hope with a new motor you would run like new.

Can anyone point me to a DIY for the head gasket replacment? My dad's car did not make it all the way here to visit and after looking at it it appears he has a blown head gasket.

Coolant recover had some coolant in it when I saw the car last night. Today I pulled the caps off the thermostat housing and radiator and saw no fluid. I was told to fill up the radiator and turn the motor over with the radiator cap removed. Coolant/water shoots out of the radator. I was told this is a sign of a blown head gasket.

The description I got from my dad and stepmom is that there was a sudden loss of power, thick smoke from the exhaust, and steam under the hood. They did not note the gauges (whether or not it overheated).

Oil looks clean and full on dipstick. Hopefully no lower case issues with pistons, etc.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

They could just have a leak in the system. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's a head gasket. Usually, when headgaskets fail, the oil gets mixed with coolant and turns into this milky color.