Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting sputter/tailpipe smoke

OK, just when I got past the battery/starting issue, I drove the car this morning and just a few minutes from home, the car was blowing smoke on acceleration. The smoke was off and on, and appeared to bluish oil smoke. I turned around and the smoke got a little worse, but only when accelerating. If you let off the gas, the smoke stopped. And sometimes it didn't do it when accelerating. When I got home, I noticed the catalytic converter popping a little. The car wasn't overheating (according to the gauge). The only thing I did to the car last night was top off the oil. It was about a quart low. I suspect the popping in the converter was from oil passing through it and heating it up. The only other symptom was a misfire when smoking. Any ideas? Head gasket? Cracked ring? Time to give up on this car?

We need more information to help... Engine type, miles, has the engine even been run extremely low on oil.

From what you�re describing it sounds like you�re getting oil past the rings during acceleration.

If it misfires, you should be able to get the CEL code(s) scanned. That will help narrow down the problem(s).

99 Contour SE with 112K miles, four cylinder engine and automatic. No pending codes yet. I only drove about 10 miles. I hate to give up on this car. It's nice and has PW, PL, and PMirrors.

Do the el cheapo headgasket test.

Fill coolant to the brim on recovery tank (leave cap off). Remove all spark plug wires. Remove all but one spark plug and have someone crank the engine. If the coolant bubbles over, there is leak from that portion of the engine (or cylinder). If not, go to the next cylinder, and then the next.... Note, it could be more than one area or more than one cylinder.