running rough and started to smoke

1997 FORD FESTIVA
180,000 MILES
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PAUL HADFIELD
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HI there, Car has been running sweet, I was about 200 metres from home when it started to run a little rough, got home, and had a look, could smell petrol, noticed it was smoking as well, and what looked like petrol coming out of the tailpipe. So just turned it off, and jumped on here........I'm thinking maybe valves........and that could be more than the car is worth, thanks for any worthwhile info ??
Aug 10, 2013 at 8:56 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Where was the smoke coming from? What color was it?
Aug 10, 2013 at 9:09 PM
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PAUL HADFIELD
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Hi there, the smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe and it was white, hope that's enough info ?
Aug 10, 2013 at 10:05 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Paul:
I hate to say it, but it sounds like it could be a head gasket. When coolant leaks into the combustion chamber, it burns white as you described. You need to have a compression test done or a leak down test done to see if that is the problem.
Aug 11, 2013 at 8:58 PM
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PAUL HADFIELD
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Thanks for your help, will check it out and get back to you, thanks again.
Aug 12, 2013 at 12:21 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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I'm glad to help. In this case, I hope I'm wrong. lol Let me know what you come up with.

Joe
Aug 12, 2013 at 9:00 PM