New here. I have an '08 LR3 with 125k mi on it. Last week it started billowing white smoke and throwing misfires. No overheat, but it appears the overflow lowered it fluid level. I did a quick OBDII scan and have misfires on 2,4,6 and 8.

I am assuming head gasket although multiple misfires stumps me...it usually seems like it affects just one cylinder. First quote was $6500, engine out with a new timing set, valves and machined heads. Also quoted a reman engine with a 3-year warranty at $6800.

I am hoping against hope it is not a head gasket or cracked head or block...but I don't know what else would cause these symptoms.

 

These engines aren't known for blowing HGs, although it can happen of course. I've heard of bad EGRs causing white smoke, or maybe it was the PCV valve, I don't remember which. misfires are usually bad coils. $6500 is a lot, so don't jump. Do the necessary sleuthing....and good luck!

 

Thank you. There is an LR3 at the Pull Apart near my office. I am going to stop tomorrow and snag the PCV out of it to try and see if I can start troubleshooting this issue. I initially thought this was a head gasket issue, but there is a little hope here after reading your reply and other posts I have stumbled on.

 

At a minimum try the PCV, MAF, plugs, coils and injectors first (not all at once, more of a sequential list) before biting the $6500 bullet

 

Good luck at the Pull Apart. Any time I've found an LR3 at a place like that it has been so picked over that there is not much good stuff left!

 

Never guess head gaskets without doing a full investigation. Compression test on all cylinders. Pull the fuel pump fuse, crank the engine with throttle full open for each cylinder. The other test is to get a kit that will show up combustion gases/contaminants in the cooling system coolant. Changing head gaskets would be quite a bit if work due to the overhead cam architecture of the engine. Hope it works out better.

 

^ Gordo is spot on. Compression test and coolant contaminants are the first method to locate a HG failure. I would do those before putting any parts on. Sadly, white smoke and disappearing coolant does not sound good. Multiple misfires is odd....

PCV failure usually results in black smoke. The PCV valve is easy to test because you can simply block two ends of the PCV system temporarily. Block the port behind the throttle body that points upwards. Its hose goes straight to the PCV. The other port to block is what connects to the plastic intake tubes right before the throttle body. If you block those both, the PCV is 100% disabled.

 

The whole bank misfiring. Any other codes?

A few years back, my 07 F150, 5.4L I thought took a total dump. Misfires on 3 of 4 cylinders on the same bank along with crank and cam sensors, and an O2 codes

In my case the VVT solenoid failed leaving the whole bank off time.

This was my scan when I thought I lost the motor.

 

Another thing to check simply is the oil—level and especially condition. Long oil change intervals with varnish and sludge buildup is hell on any VVT engine. There are many tiny passageways the oil must flow to control the VVT system.

 

Thank you all. I will keep this post up top date with my results.