my 96 3.8 goes crazy when it reaches operating temp. it perfectly fine when cold. once warm it knocks smokes and trys to die if it drops to an idle. the only code i got for it is a slipping tranny code. it has clean oil and coolant. it leaks oil when it sits but not alot. any ideas what the prob is.

 

Can you video the knock? What color is the smoke? As a general rule " engine knocking when warn" is a very bad sign. It normal indicates either too little oil pressure or too much clearance in the bearings. If the smoke has a blue-ish color to it your screwed.

But if the knocking is from the upper part of the motor and the smoke is white you could just have a fuel injection issue and the car is running lean. I would think that would leave a code.

 

it has kind of a white smoke to it, and if it was my oil pressure wouldnt my oil pressure gage let met know and my oil light would come on right. the knock sounds like it is coming from just below the left head and that is also were th smoke is coming from.

 

Noise just below the head means a problem with the bottom end. What is really wrong you will not know until you pull the motor a part.