For the last couple of weeks My truck has been idling rough. Especially with the A/C on . Yesterday it died twice on me (while in idle with a/c on ), and later in the day it started smoking through the exhaust at low idle. By the time I got home the truck started over heating. I checked radiator this morning and there is plenty of coolant and it appears to be cycling through the radiator fine. I also recently replaced the radiator, hoses and water pump.

I don't know if the over-heating and the poor idle are related.

Any thoughts on where I should start looking ??

Mike

 

what color smoke? white? black? blue?

 

How low is the idle? Maybe you need to adjust the idle screw. Also, color smoke/how much?

 

White Smoke.

Idle varies wildly. About 2 weeks ago it was idling unusually high (1500 rpms) now it is idling barely above 100.

Mike

 

sounds like the headgasket is gone or it might be the vavle cover gasket

 

Or if you have never replaced them the timing chain guides are toast and you have worn thru the cover to the water pump.

Take a look at the oil on the dip stick and see what color it is. If it looks like chocolate milk you are definitely mixing. Also look under the oil filler cap and see if there is a chocolate milk like build up under the cap.