white or gray smoke
I have an 87 country cherokee 4.0 I just gave it an oil change and spark plug change and after I did occasionally when in drive sitting at a light the white slash gray smoke comes out in sperts any ideas? Thanks
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 117
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
How much if any oil are you consuming? Is coolant level low or are you having to add coolant? How many miles on the engine?
Keep an eye on levels of both coolant and oil and how much you add. You first have to know what fluid is burning before you can address the
problem.
The oil change and spark plug change should have nothing to do with this; completely coincidental.
Keep an eye on levels of both coolant and oil and how much you add. You first have to know what fluid is burning before you can address the
problem.
The oil change and spark plug change should have nothing to do with this; completely coincidental.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 760
Likes: 6
From: Landers, CA
Year: Several
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Try to put a rag over the tailpipe when it's smoking to catch some of it - or catch some on your hand.
If it's water it will evaporate fast, oil won't.
White is steam - water - it dissipate quickly.
Grey or blue is oil - the smoke lingers for awhile.
If it's water it will evaporate fast, oil won't.
White is steam - water - it dissipate quickly.
Grey or blue is oil - the smoke lingers for awhile.
It does linger what kinda fix am I looking at
CF Veteran

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 12
From: Ontario, Canada
Year: 1989 Laredo
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L 6 Renix
AT 130K, oil?? Failing seals on the valve stems, a relatively simple fix.
Water?? Could be worse to fix, head gasket, head cracked??
Monitor the oil and coolant levels for a while.
Your not just seeing condensate evapourating out of the exhaust system after a cold start are you???, that one is no worry at all.
Water?? Could be worse to fix, head gasket, head cracked??
Monitor the oil and coolant levels for a while.
Your not just seeing condensate evapourating out of the exhaust system after a cold start are you???, that one is no worry at all.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 760
Likes: 6
From: Landers, CA
Year: Several
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Don't panic just yet --
Run your finger around the inside of the tailpipe - see if it's oily.
Oil can be from valve guides, plugged PCV system, head gasket, rings, or worse. Mileage makes no difference.
Inspect both hoses on the valve cover to make sure they are not clogged.
getting oil on the air filter?
Remove oil filler cap, smoke comes out?
next step - a compression test.
If it fails that, a leak down test.
Let us know.
Run your finger around the inside of the tailpipe - see if it's oily.
Oil can be from valve guides, plugged PCV system, head gasket, rings, or worse. Mileage makes no difference.
Inspect both hoses on the valve cover to make sure they are not clogged.
getting oil on the air filter?
Remove oil filler cap, smoke comes out?
next step - a compression test.
If it fails that, a leak down test.
Let us know.
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