Expert: Sean Halliday - 8/18/2006

Question
The first trip back from the dealer the hard start was still there.  The van has 113,000 miles.  The white smoke on the engine in cold weather disappears when engine is warm.  But I just rplaced the antifreeze and noticed that the rcovery bottle was low and so was the radiator.  Is this vaccum test expensive and will it be a positive or neagtive test with no question marks on weather the head gasket is blown or not and which head gasket is out?

Thanks Again Bill
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Followup To

Question -
I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.8 litre engine.  In the summer time right now runs fine.  When the outdoor temperature gets to 30 degrees and below engine will crank but will not start.  I have to continue to crank and press on fuel pedal to get started.  The engine will start but has a lot of white smoke.  Once running I can not move the vehicle until engine has some internal heat in it. Once I am driving the engine RPM flucates up and down and will stall out occasionally. This hard start problem has been ongoing over the last 2 years.  I have had car to Dodge dealer twice.  Did tune up and injector cleaning first time, second time could not find problem.  Engine has no Fault codes

Thanks

Bill

Answer -
The white smoke is coolant and im sure you have a small leak at the head gasket/intake.Which will explain all the problems you have.You didnt say the mileage but really when theres white smoke thats the cause,,,,get the engine vacuum tested that will tell you more. Dodge engines are prone to leaky gaskets.If you find these are ok,but im bettin theyre blown,then look at the fuel pressure regulator and fuel pressure...check all vacuum hoses for obvious leaks and any hissing from the engine,If you had the van to the dealer then im assuming they did all this but then,dealers tell ya anything,,,,,,,did the first trip make any difference?you didnt say,,,but i know for sure its not your injectors as ive had this prob before on American cars and it always has been gaskets,,,,,,,,,,leaking.

Answer
the vacuum test is simple you can do it yourself,,go to your local parts store and buy a vacuum tester,theyre bout 30 $,,,,,,,its got all the instructions you need and diagrams for what is wrong,,,if you dont find any leaks,then it may be a different problem but its a good way to eliminate a lot of components .As for the coolant being low .how much was gone?If the radiator was empty and the bottle then thats a good sign that its a small leak at the head gasket,,,,which one is a guess but do the vacuum test first see what it reads,,,did the dealer look at the MAF sensor?.....Mass air flow,,,,,and also the MAP manifold absolute pressure,,,,,sensors?.....Then you dont have any check engine lights so they may be ok.If the van runs good and is just hard to start in the cold and if nothing is amiss ,,,then try a differnt  set of plugs,,hotter range,,and renew the fuel filter,,,