Sluggish w/ white smoke?

[rock1571]

Thanks Twins, appreciate the help. There is no oil on the electrodes, just on the threads and small puddles in the spark plug wells. There is a white chalky deposit on the electrodes, but they are therwise in good condition. Is there a way for the oil to get on the threads and wells other than through the combustion chamber?

I'll clean out the CCV this weekend. If the smoke is not moisture, but is burning oil from inside the combustion chamber, is there something that failed that i should replace? I can't think of any reason for the sluggishness other than something is getting in the combusion chamber and causing a misfire. The smoke is like a James Bond smoke screen and it clears after a mile or so and then I'll go weeks with no problems.

I'll definitely be doing oil changes more often, and possibly cleaning the CCV regularly. Owned this thing for 7 years with no problems at all with the CCV up until last year...

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by rock1571

Thanks Twins, appreciate the help. There is no oil on the electrodes, just on the threads and small puddles in the spark plug wells. There is a white chalky deposit on the electrodes, but they are therwise in good condition. Is there a way for the oil to get on the threads and wells other than through the combustion chamber?

Don't take my word for it but when oil is in the plug well usually its from leaking valve cover gaskets - oil drips externally from head to the plug well. When you said there's no external oil leak that surprised me.

More than likely, your valve cover gaskets are being compromised because of the added pressure - from the problems within the CCV, caused by, I assume, excess condensation.

I never heard of oil blowing by the actual plugs from the chamber to the outside inot the plug well, but that doesn't mean it can't - just that I personally never heard of it.

The oil in the plug well is no biggie. Even the valve cover gaskets, just replace them. However, as JCL has mentioned to plenty of others, if you don't take care of the root problem (the cause of excess moisture) the cycle will start all over again.

I feel for you. I'd hate to "waste" time and have to drive extra miles just to clear the moisture but ...

The X is my wife's daily driver, she does take short trips and I worry. Since we've had the X I've never checked for the "cheeze" but will now - its been pretty cold this winter here.

[TwinsPoppa]

Also, on another thread it was mentioned that the 3.0 usually consumes more oil but that it is normal. You didn't mention blue smoke so I don't think that burning oil is the problem.

If your X is getting up in miles, then maybe oil could get by the valves but I would think the plugs would be oil fouled.

You mentioned the coolant level has been fine so no coolant loss due to bad gaskets at the water pump or heads. Don't know what else it could be other than excess moisture.

I assume that a lot of excess moisture could cause misfires.