Problems!

[Tress]

84 E-350 460 Carb

So we finally got our header issue fixed and were so happy with our van being quiet again. We cruised from Seattle down to Portland and the van was running great. Just as we got of the highway and stopped at a light the van stalled... Not the first time and usually something that happens when we have been pushing her kinda hard, so i thought no biggie. Well when i went to start it again it was extremely difficult to fire, i almost dint get her going again. After a few tries of turning it over for up to 20 seconds i was able to get her running again, i limped off the road and she stalled as soon as i let my foot off the gas. So we popped the hood, looked around under tha van and dint see anything blatant. So we let her sit for a while and tried to start her again. And again it took a few tries of turning her over and pumping the gas till she finally started. Now first of all the only way to keep her running is to keep my foot on the gas and she still runs very rough, with a pretty heavy shake and white smoke coming out the exhaust. I really dotn know what else to say, the fuel pumnps are working and she seems to be getting gas but is running like #^%$#%^! I fired her again this morning and she started pretty quick but still very rough and with white smoke, i opened the hood and the engine seemed to be shaking more than i have ever seen. Vapor lock is the only thing that has been mentioned but i really still dont understand what that is. THe plan is to tow her into a shop tomorrow morningbut i was just hoping that someone here might be able to help diagnose before i go to the shop, we really appreciate the help, hope everyone is well otherwise.
Troy & Jess

 

[spencyg]

Is there coolant in the oil? When you pull the dipstick are there little bubbles on the tip? My first thought was that you blew the power valve in the carb, but you'd be blowing black smoke and wouldn't be able to stay running below 1/2 throttle. White smoke is coolant/steam which could mean you blew a head gasket or cracked a head....

Good luck.

Spence

 

[kerry]

I concur that white smoke is typically an indicator of a bad headgasket allowing coolant into the cylinders. Checking the radiator and crankcase would probably confirm the presence of oil and coolant in the wrong places. However, a 1964 Austin Healy Sprite I owned poured out clouds of white smoke when the PCV valve failed and it was sucking oil directly from the crankcase into the intake manifold.

 

[Tress]

Amazing thats exactly what my other forum came up with, in fact i almost thougth it was the same guy writing here that wrote to us from there. Either way we found a guy in teh Portland area that is going to do t he work and hopefully go easy on us. Again thank you for the help, its so nice to have this community of people to help us through the time that might otherwise bring us down. Take care, enjoy the ride and time a-body...... untilnext time ehh!

 

[Tress]

Well turns out the prob was a bad carberator? Shouldn't cost too much to have it rebuilt, hopefully thats the only prob, either way thanks for the help

 

[T.Low]

Seattle to Portland? Didn't know you were in Washington. Where did you enter Wa, thru the Peace Arch Crossing or the Truck Crossing, or Lynden. If any of the above, you drove right by my house in Bellingham. I'm a mile from I-5 but can see it in my view.

Happy travels and good luck.