white smoke (fuel smell) and water streaming from tail pipe
Asked by Onja06 Jan 17, 2014 at 12:10 PM about the 1999 Mercury Mountaineer 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
1999 Mountaineer, 5.0L, AWD. 226,000 mi. I have white smoke and water coming from tail pipe. No water in oil or vis versa. Can this be manifold related as opposed to block / heads.
15 Answers
Is it missing/idling rough? Check engine light on?
Is coolant level low or needing topped off regularly? If no then this could be that the weep hole in the lower back end of the muffler is stopped up. Your muffler has a weep hole in the lower back(outgoing) side. Right at the lower rim of muffler. Have seen these get stopped up and cause the naturally occurring condinsation in the exhaust system build up to the point that what appears to be pure water pouring out of the exhaust pipe. If hole is stopped up scrape the dirt off the hole. You will know its open when water comes pouring out of it.
If everything is working normal on some vehicles we had to drill the weep holes out on the mufflers to keep them from doing what you describe. Forgot about that dandy.
I wish the check engine light was on....lol. but no. yes on coolant being low / needs topping off every time is driven. I also have no heater, which makes sense with lose of coolant. Last time I started it, over heated until therm opened, which told me no coolant in block, and it was losing about 4-6 oz of water per min out the pipe ;0(
Remove the spark plugs and do a pressure test on the coolant system. This will cause it to leak and help you find it. If coolant shows up in spark plug hole you have a blown head gasket.
Thanks, I'll give that a shot.
Now, wait. I don't think I'm getting water in the plugs, no symptoms to indicate that. Also, I'm not sure about the blown gasket theory, with blown gasket shouldn't I see oil and water mixed somewhere??
Sometimes but not always. If loosing coolant but can't find a leak with white smoke out the exhaust is a sign of a blown head gasket. White smoke is caused by coolant entering the cylinder. Doing a pressure test on the cooling system with the spark plugs out will let you know for sure if coolant is entering the cylinders. Most auto parts stores will loan you the pressure tester equipment so doing the test is free and will give you peace of mind as to whether the head gasket is blown.
10/4, thanks for the sign of hope. Appreciate it.
Do as dandy said but lave the pressure tester on it until it goes to zero and then crank it over without the spark plugs in it.If it's in it this will show it.It will blow antifreeze out the cylinders.
Another good call tuff4x4. I did not explain how to know its in there. Thanks
Zero, got it. ;0) Thanks guys
I have a 2004 mountaineer it's running hot no water in oil but oil smells like gas and the water reservoir smells real strong of gas what's the cause . Intake ?
And it starts right up and runs perfect til over heats
My 2006 mercury mountaineer is pouring out white smoke from the tail pipe and is idling pretty rough we just changed the thermostat housing because it was leaking coolant but now theres that white smoke pouring out if the rain pipe what could be wrong