Have a thead at Unscrupulos Seller Part 2 in which discuss sweet white smoke coming out of exhaust. Because title of that thread does not mention the issue, figured might be missing some good input so I started this thread.
Synopsis of prior thread: No white smoke out of pipes at idle. Rev to a few thousand and white smoke. Not billowing. Just looks like exhaust on a cold Wisconsin day. Goes away at idle. Coolant system pressure test - 50 minutes didn't lose one psi.
Picked up loaner tool combustion gas test kit and fluid. Was going to do this morning when realized rubber beveiled stopper down thermostat tower would suck up coolant and ruin test. I have an extra thermostat tower cap. Thinking of drilling a hole in it for stopper which will keep it above coolant. Other option is to use coolant reservior. If I'm remembering correctly, when heater is on reservoir will have coolant flowing through it.
EGR and throttle body have coolant flowing through them. Will bypass them one at a time to see if smoke stops.
Also will pull plugs to inspect and compression test this weekend if smoke does not stop.
When started this morning after sitting 36 hours first time any issue. Ran rough for a few seconds and died. Next start ran rough for a few seconds and recovered to normal. Pending codes (again first time ever) P0310 through P0308 except no P0305. Also P1316 (injector circuit/DM codes detected. I understand that's emissions related to the misfires.

 

The 2002 4.0 XK8 North American cars do not have the EGR. (XKR does)

 

Thanks. I was going by the RockAuto site. Guess I would have figured it out when I couldn’t find it.

 

Although I think internal, added fluorescent dye, ran for 30 minutes, UV light and nothing.
Did combustion gas test at reservoir. Instructions said 2 minutes and I did 4. Nothing.
Had heat and blower on high. Concern not enough flow so will redo at thermostat tower.

 

I'd say check all the spark plugs. If coolant makes it in there in small quantity, it turns to steam and becomes an excellent cleaner. If one or more spark plugs come out substantially cleaner then others, that is another hint towards the problem.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

Planning this weekend when I do compression check

 

First squeeze of bulb

 

Disconnected coils driver’s side. Ran a couple minutes to clear gases. Ran on 4 cylinders. So either passenger side or both.

 

Same result.

 

Made the decision to use CRC head gasket repair. No white smoke or sweet smell from exhaust. Had daughter rev to 3500 for a while and no smoke.
I know the negatives of head gasket repair but worth the risk. Wasn’t going to do tear down to replace a head gasket. If goes bad later I’ll do another LS swap (this time manual transmission) or possibly an engine from a parts car from CoPart.

 

Bummer about the HG. I wonder how some of these sellers sleep at night or look at themselves in the mirror.

I'll bet your PO didn't do crap to the car, and eventually the plastic thermostat housing grenaded and overheated the engine. That's what mine did, although his was so bad it required new heads.