I have a car that sputters on idle and during low acceleration, then clears up somewhat when floored after it has warmed up. I have noted a bit of white smoke when this happens, and I have also noted that the car seems to use or leak water, although I can see NO TRACE of water in the motor oil!
The car in question is a 2.2 liter Chrysler 4 cylinder engine in a 1986 LeBaron. I have changed the plugs, fuel filter, air filter, cap and rotor, ran many containers of concentrated fuel injector cleaner as well, still this maddening sputter and rough idle.
So, I'm starting to wonder if the valves are sticking. Car has 137K miles and did run well until recently. No loose wires or broken vaccum hoses to blame either. So, could it be the valves, or could it possibly be leaking water via a weak head gasket?What are some symptoms of VALVES STICKING on a 4 cylinder car?You have a blown head gasket, that is why the white smoke, antifreeze makes white smoke when it burns. Also this is why you are losing water. If the valves stick it would be hard starting, smoke blue, lack of power.........Try some bars-leak. This may improve the situation but probably only temporally.What are some symptoms of VALVES STICKING on a 4 cylinder car?if the valves were sticking on it you would hear a loud ticking noise on it or a loud clicking sound,you would also have a dead miss-fire in it,and it would loose power real bad,you can tell this by running a compression check on it this will tell you instantly if it has a bad valve or not,good luck with it.What are some symptoms of VALVES STICKING on a 4 cylinder car?2.2L's were very prone to head gasket failures, especially in cylinders 1 or 4. White smoke is antifreeze. Ocassionally, a headgasket can leak and not intermix oil and water.
Most likely, you do have a headgasket leak. If you pull the spark plugs out after the engine is warm and steam rises from one of the cylinders, chances are that is the cylinder that is leaking.Are the valves sticking you ask?
I would compression test the engine.
Interesting that you said that when you accelerate the engine sputtered the sputtering noise vanishes....that could be a sticking choke on the carburetor...when the choke opens more and idle spped increses, the spark plugs are not fouling and burning better, thus a better idle.
However, the water leak is most likely the head gasket...have a certified tech pressure test the coolant system..
Dollars to cents that head gasket must be replaced...2.2 engines are famous for that.White smoke, usually antifreeze, does it smell sweet?
Head Gasket if it does smell like that.
