Thread: Oh great what happened now... Car running horrible, white smoke show, video included

Well here is the story. Car drove fine to school even ran idle in the parking lot for a few minutes after I got there. I go to leave school and start my car as usual and it will barely even run. Idle is erratic anywhere from 300-1500, along with vacuum surging from 15-22 InHg. The car stutters under any load whatsoever, it dumps white smoke out of the exhaust after small revs or attempts to idle it myself. Black smoke pours out upon start up. Oil is fine, radiator is full, overflow bottle is normal level. Just need some general feedback or direction. My first instincts were head gasket since it is dumping so much white smoke, but the radiator is fine along with the oil. Nick just helped me replace the lim gaskets a month or so ago so i can't really imagine them failing, especially in a span of three hours in the parking lot. Anyway here is a video, just wanted to hear some opinions. Mods are in my signature, currently running just a 3.4 on an extremely conservative tune with 12* wot timing. Runs a tad rich normally. Here's the video of my sweet cam sounding pos.
YouTube - My pos GTP

Do you have a way to scan it?

Just an update. I borrowed a code reader and let the car run long enough to kick the see light. Code reader kicked out p0306 misfire on cylinder six. I pulled the cylinder six plug and the plug is completely black and smells like raw fuel. At this point i had already checked the oil again and the cap, still no sign of coolant in the oil. Radiator still full, no bubbles etc. Anyway, misfire on 6. I pulled the plug, black, smelled like raw fuel. Checked other plugs, and they smelled of fuel also. Still perplexed, but I did up a new video and will post in a minute or so.

First things first put some new plugs in it, check fuel pressure, check the fuel pressure reg, check for spark.

New video, gonna check some things suggested.
YouTube - Again the crappy GTP

Originally Posted by 01GTP

First things first put some new plugs in it, check fuel pressure, check the fuel pressure reg, check for spark.

plugs first... i dont hear any rod knock though. Just spun a bearing...so I know how that sounds. However, the surge sounds like my topswap after I jacked up a power wire to my MAF and EVAP.

You threw 2 codes... what was the other one?

Originally Posted by Lawngoose

plugs first... i dont hear any rod knock though. Just spun a bearing...so I know how that sounds. However, the surge sounds like my topswap after I jacked up a power wire to my MAF and EVAP.

You threw 2 codes... what was the other one?

It said two codes but they were P0306 and p/d P0306 same codes. I unplugged the maf and nothing changed. I swapped out plug wires and still the same. If I had a set of plugs I'd try them out too but I'll have to pick some up. I think coil packs can be ruled out since it's only showing a misfire on 6 and not 3 and 6.

I'm no pro, but could the injector be messed up?

Well, I just got an Aurora that was surging badly, billowing white smoke and ran like ****. Turned out to be a bad fuel pressure regulator on it. It is vacuum operated on the Aurora and was sucking fuel through the bad diaphragm, through the vacuum line, and directly into the intake. It was also throwing misfire codes and soaking the plugs in fuel. I replaced the FPR and cleaned all the plugs and it runs like new again.

So, seeing as your symptoms sound exactly like what I was dealing with, my guess is for whatever reason, your car is drowning in WAY too much fuel. Now just figure out why. Pull the vacuum line off of the FPR and see if there is fuel in the vacuum line. If there is, there's your problem.

Amen.

I was there...I witnessed it and all the free FPR's we got from the junkyard. Tested to work perfectly and Jay tasted enough gas...and its safe to say...V8 Aurora burnouts FTMFW in "POWER" mode LOL 228K on the clock and it still left 2 damn good marks from just mashing the gas with no e-brake.

Had a little time today to play with my car. I took the vacuum lines off the regulator and there were no fuel in them. Fuel pressure at key on read 55 and then dropped to 40ish. My uncle who was messing with it didn't turn the car on with his gauge on it so I can't tell you what the idle readings are. Still same symptoms after sitting a day. Although I did notice coolant pooled up around the lim under the alternator. Still at a loss for other ideas, I wish I could scan the car and tell you guys more.

Flashing light=Active misfire. Swap injector see if code moves. Change plugs and wires Move the coil pack see if it moves. Coolant near the Alt is probably the elbow leaking. Does the white smoke smell sweet?

Side note running 12 WOT timming isnt that good either Unless you Like Super elevated Exhaust gas temps and Doggish acceleration

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............12* of timing...hmmmmmmmmm.............