engine trouble

[kedjc22]

I was driving my 2005 matrix I have 160,000 miles on it started to loose power pushed down on gas pedal more and tons of white smoke was comeing out of the pipe there was no engine noise I got it started after some time still smokeing bad and runs bad is there any troubleshooting I can do my self or do I have to take this to the dealer.

[paladin_omega]

I had the same thing happen to a 95 honda civic. White smoke is steam. The steam comes from coolant getting into the combustion chamber. You've likely blown the head gasket. Keep checking your coolant level. If the level keeps dropping then you have your answer. Keep adding coolant so that your engine doesn't overheat. I ended up taking the head off of my civic and putting in a $26 head gasket. I all I spent about $100 in oil, coolant and other odds and ends. If you're not mechanically inclined you're likely looking at a pretty large bill from a mechanic as the head gasket isn't easy to change. There are also other possibilities, that you're cracked the head or the block which is the worst case scenario. I wish i had better news for you.

Another troubleshooting tool you can use is to put a florescent dye into your coolant and using black light on the exhaust to see if it will glow. If it does that again confirms that you have coolant in your combustion chamber.

If you're had this problem for a while you may also see a white deposit on your spark plugs. If you pull them out you may find one that is particularly whiter than the rest. It may be that this is the cylinder around which the head gasket, or the cracked head or block has failed.

Performing a compression test on your cylinders may also help troubleshoot. You should have less compression in the cylinder with the problem. If you have low pressure at at two adjacent cylinders it could be that the leak is between the two cylinders.

I hear that coolant can also get into the air intake manifold as there is coolant flowing through it and the gasket there can break down and let coolant into the air intake and get into your combustion chamber. This would be the best case scenario as you would only have to take your air intake manifold off and change the gasket.

Good luck.

[ventsyv]

Blown head gasket is a big problem even if you are mechanically inclined. One way to check, is to look at your oil. If the gasket is leaking you'll end up with coolant in the oil and the oil will look milky. If the oil is not milky its likely your head gasket is OK.

[paladin_omega]

Yes, could get coolant in the oil as well and it would turn the oil a milky colour. It all depends on were the break in the gasket is. There is a water jacket around the cylinders meaning that the coolant is completely surrounding combustion chamber. From there it could leak inward into the combustion chamber or outward towards an oil chamber. I haven't heard of many Matrix's blowing a gasket. Wouldn't mind knowing what happened to yours.

[kedjc22]

He guys sorry it took me so long to get back here to say thanks for all your help being without a car just makes everything you need to do almost impossible. I think coolant is getting into the cylinder just because my oil looks fine,So I think I will take it to the dealers to confirm this problem I talk to them and it will cost $110.00 to check it out after that I will have to work on it myself just can not afford another big bill money is the factor not enough,Yes I am mechanically inclined I have been a maintenance mechanic for Kraft Foods for 20 years just haven't been in the car seen for some time is there any suggestions or ideas you guys have that might make this go as fast and easy as possible for me I have alto of things I want to talk about I really like my car and want to trick it out to the Max again thanks for all your help.