White smoke than shuddering--what gives??

[pgqlts]

My son was traveling the interstate in his 98 Ranger and saw a bunch of white smoke that he realized was coming from his truck. At the next toll and since the truck is shaking when he's going between 30 and 50. Dumb question, maybe, but does anyone know what this could be? He is two weeks away from trading this truck in. It has 92,000 miles on it--thanks for any help you can give.

[ECVcrawltoy711]

is it smoke or steam.

DRew

[Will2]

Blown head gasket

[pgqlts]

He said white smoke that went away after he drove a bit. Thanks for the info - I'll let him know. Is that an expensive fix?

[Will2]

Head gasket is a fairly expensive fix. And if diving is continued without fixing, antifreeze(A drying agent)/water can go all through your engine in areas when it's not supposed to be and ruin the engine.

[TEAMGAROOT]

does the oil look "milky"? sometimes if your headgasket goes it will leak coolant into the engine and mix with the oil. does the check engine light come on or flash while driving? im not sure but it might just be a sensor. my chevy blew whitish smoke and shook when it was burning rich, but after the new regulator, it was good. i could also smell gas, but thats just something to think about.

[waterboy1381]

Blown head gaskets are a relatively inexpensive fix as long as you are somewhat competant in mechanics, only runs the money for a new gasket which isnt that much depending on the car and motor. In addition to milky oil in the motor to check for a blown head gasket pull out the dipstick and look for a white colored line on it (from the fluids that will leak in) or open the coolant resevior cap with the engine running and look in. Most blown head gaskets will cause the coolant to send air bubbles into the resevior.