today i went to look at a 2004 xj8 with a view to purchasing it, price $2000.00

the paint was a little dull and the drivers seat cushion was torn but the main problem was when you started it there was a complete whiteout from the exhaust.

this wasn't like rings or valve guides, this was sunlight obliterating oil smelling smoke, easily as dense as a theatrical smoke machine.

it wasn't like a head gasket allowing water into the cylinders, it was a thick smoke.

this was accompanied by a definite regular missfire from what seemed to be one cylinder.

there was nothing in the information center on the dash except a low washer bottle warning and an orange light.

this would suggest a mechanical fault of some kind so i was wondering if there were any intake manifold sealing problems as i have seen this symptom on chevrolet engines where the silicon rubber gasket has been displaced allowing engine oil to be sucked directly into an intake port.

anyone have any ideas?