Billows Of White Smoke!

[Fritz The Cat]

My son recently purchased a 1988 Volvo 740 5 door station wagon with the turbocharged 2.3 L-4. Really nice rust free car.

Today as he was driving it, it suddenly started pumping out huge clouds of white smoke from the tailpipe. Shut down and restart gives rough idle and small amounts of white smoke, put it in drive and go, huge clouds of white smoke. Park it and let it cool down for half an hour, starts fine, idles fine, little to no smoke, drive for about a block and it starts pumping it out again.

Anybody have an idea as to whats going on here?


05-23-2003 Update: Just got back from my son's house, did a quick visual check. Found exhaust gases coming out of the oil fill hole on valve cover. Looks like he blew the head gasket. Of course, nobody in my area stocks head, intake, exhaust, valve cover, gaskets. all must be ordered with delivery on tuesday. We could have had this thing running by the end of the three day weekend. Bummer.