Just curious if any of you guys could give me a hand.

I am the proud owner of a beautiful '89 Volvo 240 DL, only 260 k miles on it . A couple of weeks ago I developed a problem with my exhaust system, took it in, everything past the catalytic converter was replaced. On the way to getting my exhaust fixed my Check Engine light came on. Now my gas mileage has been cut in half, and my girlfriend was telling me that it was spitting out white smoke yesterday. I was talking to a friend that said he thought it might be the head gasket? a) any clue what if this is really the case, and b) any clue of what the general cost in replacing it would be?

Thanks!

 

Hey Rainey, I just read your post and noticed the banner at the bottom. Those advertisers make this site possible and I try to patronize them. From reading the ad you have nothing to lose. "tech" on here would know better but white smoke is indicative of water vapor. Keep and eye on your coolant resovoir for level drops. I don't know what that would cost but I bet you could do it yourself with help from these guys in here.

 

See if your oil looks like choclate milk.

See what your coolant looks like and if it is low.

Yes white smoke means blown headgasket.

It really isn't all that hard to do.

 

could it be something else? because my oil is black and there is no problem with my coolant.

someone told me there should be a sound, it should be making a bit of a racket, but to be honest my engine has never sounded better...

 

Next would be to do a compression test on all the cylinders.