I found my using the cruise control yesterday on I40 at around 75. I noticed the car dropped gears trying to regain speed, but the speedometer was just falling. As soon as I disengaged the cruise control, the front end began to smoke, and soon after all I could see through the rear window was smoke as well. I coasted to a stop to realize the engine had stopped. I let the truck cool off and tried to start it to no avail--the starter would activate but the engine wouldn't turn over. After having it towed, I was able to sort of get it started, but the engine was devastatingly weak and didn't stay running for more than 20 seconds.

I'm trying to figure out what my next step should be. I suspect a blown head gasket from what I have read. It's a 2000 DII with 125,000. I paid $2,200 for the truck and am trying to find my best option. Any comments? Thank you.

 

Smoke or steam
Do you have any mixing of coolant/oil/exhaust
????

 

It was difficult to tell whether it was steam or smoke, but it looked like smoke to me. Continued to smoke lightly for around 5 minutes after the engine stopped. And I did not notice any loss of fluid anywhere--even under the hood.

 

Forget how it looked, what did it smell like?

What's the level in the coolant bottle?

Even a small amount of coolant can make a whole lot of steam.

Do you have a temperature measuring gauge? Does it start now?

 

It really just smelt like smoke--no particular fluid smell came from the car. The behavior was if it had overheated, but I constantly keep an eye on the temperature gauge and did not notice a spike. It will sort of start now, but it is terribly weak and will only stay running for 30 seconds or so. Sounds like it's on its last leg.

 

Is your oil milky looking? Any unusual sounds?

 

The smoke came from somewhere. First thing to do before trying to start the car is to figure out where it came from. Check all your fluid levels.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this sounds more serious than a headgasket.

 

v

Speculation. Could it be somehow cruise control related? OP says he was in cruise control at the time.

I don't fully understand how cc works. But I'd want to find out to check that system.

Electrics are not totally fried because it starts.

Do you have a code reader attached? Did it throw any codes during the incident. Could it be simple plug leads on hot parts. Burn through. Runs missing two cylinders etc.

I'm thinking that level of disaster at the moment.

OP. spend a good hour just visually looking at every part in the engine bay. From below as well. Jack it up so you can get under better. Look for things amiss. Smell around. Try an find strong burnt smells to follow.

As above. It's come from somewhere. And the clues are there.

 

I'd be looking at my cooling system, oil lines, transmission lines to start.