6 months after buying my 1992 Ford Explorer automatic, I've had a domino effect of problems go on.

Please let me know if ANYONE knows ANYTHING of what could be going on.

First off my truck was taking a few minutes to warm up in the morning to change gears, what I mean is in the cold morning I'd get in warm it up and drive off. It'd excelerate but with very high RPMs once I'd reach about 3000 RPMs at 35 MPH & it'd stift to the next gear and wouldn't happen for the rest of the day. Someone said my tranny fluid might be gummy when cold and so it takes longer to shift until it warms up and loosens....?

Then...my truck would die if I didn't warm up it for like 5-7 minutes before driving it in the morning. Then it started to die if it was even parked for a few hours if I didn't warm it up for a few minutes before driving it again.

Then yesterday my engine started overheating-before my truck wouldn't ever warm up??! I figured my coolant must need to be flushed because perhaps I had rust build up blocking it to cool/warm my engine. I went and had my radiator flushed after work and everything went fine until I started it up this morning and noticed in my side mirror that I had more exhaust then I usually do but didn't want to worry myself and drove off to work. MY GOSH. I had CLOUDS huge billowing clouds of white exhaust smoke pouring out of my tail pipe. Good thing I only work minutes away but I don't know what happened??!

PLEASE HELP. Even if you only know a little bit. I'm still here at work and don't know if I should drive it home...?
THANKS!
Melissa

 

sounds like blown head gasket with the smoke problem and it would affect the running problem to. Transmission change fluid and filter

 

I know it's really pricy to replace a head gasket at a shop but how hard is it to do it on you own??
I know the parts itself isn't too expensive.

Has anyone ever used any of those head gasket sealants?

 

yeah you have to take the top of the motor apart. its alot of work