Orion 1.6 LX Heavy smoke from exhaust

[Gabby]

My Ford Orion 1.6 LX, Petrol, 1992 model has started to throw out great amounts of smoke from the exhaust and water level dropped dramatically.
The oil level also appears to have risen as well. I have looked through the fault diagnostics section in my Haynes manual but unable to find anything to relate.
The car has 80.000 on the clock.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[david and julie]

Depends on the colour of the smoke.Black is unburnt fuel, blue is oil.White is usually steam from water entering the bores which can also increase the oil level.

From what you describe it sounds like the head gasket as gone.

 

[PowerTool]

Agree with D&J - sounds like classic symptoms of head gasket gone (water level going down,oil level going up)
Parts not that expensive if you want to do it yourself,probably cost £300 - £500 at a garage (the main bit either way is getting the head skimmed by a specialist)

Needs investigating as soon as possible - it will only get worse
Garage should be able to confirm fairly easily with quick compression test on cylinders,and pressure test of cooling system.

 

[2scoops0406]

From what you say, it might well be the valve stem oil seals, v common to go on Escorts / Orions.

 

[AdamW]

Another sign of head gasket failure is gunk with the consistency of mayonnaise inside the oil filler. This is caused when water has got into the oil.

 

[Gabby]

Thanks all for the feed back.
The smoke from the exhaust is blue but there are occasions when you get plumes of steam.

 

[david and julie]

I would still go for the head gasket, it sounds like it may have gone near an oilway. This is presuming there was no blue smoke before your problems started.

There really is no other explanation for the oil level rising other than water getting into the sump. Especially given that the water level is also dropping.

As Eddie said, valve oil seals can cause blue smoke but usually mainly on initial start up and for the first mile or so. Whilst the head is off you may as well decoke it and fit new springs and oil seals.

You need to get a compression test first and then take it from there.

 

[Gabby]

Thanks for all your input. It was the head gasket. Pressure test carried out and found to be ok. Still blows a little white smoke after repairs but great improvement.