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Rough Idle/White Smoke

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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:09 PM
  #1  
Deathwagon's Avatar
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From: Humboldt, Cali.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Default Rough Idle/White Smoke

I got a quick question my rig has been running like a champ since i bought it, until today. I hopped in it and drove it to the bank everything ran just fine. When I came back out i hopped under the hood real quick to see if i could find why my heater isn't working and found some broken vaccum lines on the passenger side running to the canister behind the front bumper so i taped them up real quick till I could get home. When I fired it up it immediately began running rich and has kind of a lopey idle somewhere around 500-600 rpm and if i rev it and let my foot of the gas it just dies, all the meanwhile I'm getting white smoke from the exhaust. I have checked all over and can't seem to find someone with a similar problem anyone have any suggestions?
Quick specs: '87 XJ Pioneer 4.0, BA-10, 231, 30, 35 all stock
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:15 PM
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From: Hammond, in
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Generally white smoke is because you're getting coolant in the cyl. Check your oil and make sure it is not a brownish color (indicates coolant mixed with oil).
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:16 PM
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Year: 2000
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x2
Does it have a sweet smell to it?

Sounds like you have two different problems (running rich, and headgasket)
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:36 PM
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From: Humboldt, Cali.
Year: 1987
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Engine: I6 4.0
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What is supposed to have the smell, the oil or exhaust? and my oil is a very very dark brown and only on the edges of the dipstick. My smoke is light (not much) and kinda grayish light blue
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:41 PM
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From: so cal
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Originally Posted by Deathwagon
What is supposed to have the smell, the oil or exhaust? and my oil is a very very dark brown and only on the edges of the dipstick. My smoke is light (not much) and kinda grayish light blue
White smoke is coolant, You should smell it from the exhaust.
But it is easy to mistake white for gray smoke, sounds to me you have a terrible vacuum leak.

If there was coolant in the oil, it would look like a chocolate milk shake. Or if there was oil in the coolant you would know also.

Check for a vacuum leak, That is what I suspect.
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:43 PM
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From: Humboldt, Cali.
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Sounds good, start with all sensors then eh?
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:47 PM
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From: so cal
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Also check the vacuum line to the map sensor.
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Old Mar 17, 2010 | 09:53 PM
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From: Humboldt, Cali.
Year: 1987
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10-4 thanks for the help will take a look here in a few.
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