I am in the process of customizing a "97 f150, 5.4, for my son. I bought the truck a few years ago and it has sat up with me running it occasionally. Now when I start the truck, it runs very eratic (no code) and smokes. The smoke is white and clears up after it warms up a bit. Can anyone tell me if this could be something simple or more like major engine problems. The truck only has 112K miles and ran perfect when i bought it 3 years ago. All i did was just sit it up. Thanx

 

could just be alot of moisture in your exhaust system.

 

How long do you let it sit?

You need to keep things lubricated otherwise those occasional starts are not going to help.(seals, rings,....) Needs to be driven once a week, IMO.

 

was planning on cleaning throttle body and changing out all cops. kinda scared to spend money if it is major. it almost feels like a vacuum leak at idle, but don't know enough about modern engines to know if it could be the problem. wish it would show a code.

 

Is it losing any coolant?

 

haven't monitered it, you thinking head gasket or something. about to spend some money and time in major tune-up. cops, injestors, throttle body clean and exhaust. just don't want it to be a waste.

 

how old is the gas in your tank?

 

It probably has something to do with it, but white smoke? It sat so long that i actually had to beat on the tank to get the fuel pump to work. I also may have messed up by adding good high octane fuel to the old fuel and a little fuel injector cleaner. could that be burning white? also i was planning on trying to empty the tank and put fresh fuel tommorrow and go from there. i don't have a problem installing new cops, and fuel injectors i'm just concerned that it will be a waste if i have major problems.

 

i'd run that tank until its empty and then fill it up with a little bit of fuel. and add some more injector cleaner if it clears up. and you can try some seafoam. i'm thinking it sat so long and not everything is seating properly. thats what happened with my old motor from sitting for about a year before i bought it. but it may be a head gasket. you'll have to run that tank empty to know.

 

what is this? never heard of it.

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...egoryCode=3233
its a cylinder cleaner. it cleans any kind of carbon buildup in your cylinders and clears the fuel system a little bit. i've seen a couple engines before and after the use of this at my school yesterday and its very impressive in my opinion. the engines looked almost like new. it'll blow white smoke out your tailpipe(s) until your tank is empty or at least until all the seafoam is out of the tank.

 

so i add it to my fuel tank also? can i buy it at local auto parts? gonna empty tank tommorrow, fill with high octane fuel, add fi cleaner. should i add this also.

 

you can get it from advance auto or some napa stores carry it, and the walmart near me carries it but the one back at my home in MD didnt so your walmart may carry it or it may not. i have never used it before but going by alot of threads on this site i believe you can poor it in the tank or in the intake/tb. if you run into it just read the directions and see how you need to use it.

 

thanks, can you tell me what injectors to use? i saw something about #3 type or something like that on here? also, are the jegs cops better than the global? i had a mechanic install new global cops on my 2001 f150, 5.4 and he really wasn't to thrilled about them. not gonna spend the $$ for ford ones.

 

i cant exactly help with the injectors but the global cop's are fine. just dont get any performance cop's unless your gonna really modify something. its a waste of money. especially when you can get a full set of 8 globals for 80 bucks the highest that i've seen. just make sure you use motorcraft plugs and dielectric grease in the cop boots.