QuestionI have a '95 Olds Achieva with the 2.3 Quad4 engine. It has aprox 158,000 miles currently. For some time now I have been having some problems when starting the vehicle. It will always start on the first time, yet when it does it seems to idle really rough, shaking the whole car. At first it would only happen every other week or day, now it is nearly every time the car is started. The duration of the rough idle varies, but normally stops within a minute or so. After that, it seems to ‘pop' into a correct idle and then runs fine. It runs incredible in fact. Very powerful and averaging 30 mpg. A few times though, I have noticed a great deal of thick white smoke coming from the tailpipe. It doesn't have a heavy smell, but it stops coming as soon as the car stops idling rough. This has only happed about 3 times. I believe I might have a small oil leak near the timing chain housing/water pump area. Recently, I've also had problems keeping oil pressure while coming to a stop. The oil itself seems to be very watery and thin. It seems to be a very light gold color to almost clear even after being in there for about 2500 miles. Any help you could give would be appreciated! Thanks!
A little history:
Head cracked and repaired @ 100K mi
Oil pressure gauge changed @ 120K mi
Spark plugs changed @ 155K mi ~although they looked good
Radiator and coolant system flush @ 155K mi
Transmission serviced @ 155K mi
AnswerYou stated:
Head cracked and repaired @ 100K mi.
WHAT all was done to repair this cracked head ?.
From your question it would appear that you are getting engine coolant into the engine oil either via a blown head gasket or the REPAIR that was done to the head has failed and or re-cracked.
This would explain the WHITE smoke and the rough idle when the engine is first started as the engine oil is thinned ou to the point that it is effecting the hydraulic lifters and probably you are getting engine coolant into the combustion chambers.
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