Recently purchased a nice rust free 1997 4.0 auto ranger. When I bought it I knew it puffed white smoke after about 15 seconds of starting and lasts about 30 seconds - 1 minute. I have driven it 1,400 miles and have only had to fill up the coolant reservoir twice. I went to fill it up the other day and noticed a layer of (what looks and smells like) engine oil. My oil level, smell, and color are all normal. Since then, it has been running a little rougher than normal. While it was warming up It cut out on me while accelerating onto the highway (gradually, not fast) like it was out of gas. And it has been idling rough while in park only. Other than that, still runs normal.

I have read a few areas of interest - Head/Head Gasket - Intake Gaskets - or Engine Oil Cooler (do i even have one)

Any advice or experience appreciated.

Put in new thermostat when i purchased it cause the gauge wasn't working, reads and warms perfect now.


Thank you.

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1997 Ranger 4.0L - XLT - 4X4 - Auto - Reg Cab - Short box - 125,XXX Miles

Would do a compression check to be sure as a check for a bad head gasket. Another possibility is a leak in your rad allowing transmission oil to leak into your rad through the oil cooler. Check color of transmission oil. Should be red if normal. Antifreeze will have a red colour to it if this is going on.

X2.

Does the oil look milky when you check the stick?

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2014 F150 xl 3.7 6 speed auto.