Fixed the rough idling/running but.......

Our '98 Windstar 3.8 had been running progressively more rough lately. Last week, our CEL indicator began blinking and then remained steadily lit. Autozone gave us a code of PO301: Misfire on Cyl#1. We had the Autozone csr clear the codes. Our van drove very roughly on the ride home and the temperature gauge began to rise well past 60%. I did some research on the web and dh cleaned our EGR ports today. The van idles and runs much more smoothly now, but when we took it out for a post-repair run, our temperature gauge was still rising past 60%. Dh turned the heat on and the heat ran hot and cold. Once we got home, we let the van sit and idle for a while to see if the engine would cool down. The temperature gauge level did start to decrease. While the van was idling, my husband revved the engine. The temperature gauge started to go up again.

We have a little white smoke coming from the tailpipe. Not much, just a little.

Please help. I love my van.

ravengal

Monitor the coolant level for any signs of coolant loss and for any "bubbling" sounds or overflow from the radiator. You may have a blown or leaking head or manifold gasket. A small leak will leak exaust into the coolant system causing "air pockets" that intefere with coolant circulation. As the leak gets larger, coolant will start leaking into the intake and will be burned as white smoke. If the leak gets too big, coolant will leak into the cylinder and the compression of the cylinder towards the head will crack the cylinder head because water does not compress.