Mysterious Smoking LS, anyone else?

[tireman]

01V6 141k automatic, runs great normal temps, nothing unusual going on. Driving along, come to a light, stop, wait, then white smoke rolling over hood on passenger side, pull over to side of road open hood leave car running and nothing, no smoke, no nothing. WTF? 4 times now. At stop and wait for light locations. Not consecutive, random. Never find anything. outside air temps 65f. no rain, nothing. checked underneath, no found holes in exhaust all clean, no rust, southern car, no leaks, nothing. Anyone else had this smoking?

 

[G-RELL]

sounds like a slight vcg leak.... I'd look (feel) closely around there...When its cool of course

 

[joegr]

This maybe?
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=59420

 

[tireman]

Joegr you are correct!

Found drip spot on exhaust manifold under IMT valve. Must be the O-rings after 11 years!

here is more data on the IMT valve and what it does

http://www.justanswer.com/ford-lincoln/3mugg-lincoln-ls-3-0-2004-model-problem-code.html

The part number is 87072-S91

It will work in the JAG 3.0 or Lincoln 3.0 engine.

I found a note that you can slip the o-rings over the IMT valves to install them, no need to remove the intake manifold. I'll give it a try.

http://www.obd-codes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4573

Further checking revealed this same gasket/seal used in many ford/lincoln vehicles, all with the same problems, vacuum leaks conditions. Ford has created a new green gasket so they are well aware of this problem.

 

[tireman]

Update on repair

Found that Jet gasket & seal offers a 2 3/8 inside diameter o-ring that will work. The outside diameter needs to be 2 1/2. I bought the 2 3/4 OD which is just a little too big to squeeze back in the hole.

You can slip the o-ring over the valve without removing the valve, but there is enough room with enough force to pull the valve out for inspection. On the 01V6.

Since I had the wrong o-rings, and the old one was still elastic, I poured gasket sealant all over the o-ring area and plugged the valve back in, then tightened the two holding bolts. No more leaks!