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95 Chevy G20 cargo van, V8 5.7L, 90,000 miles. My van failed the emissions test, so I tuned it up. The plugs, wires, cap, rotor were all from the factory, very old and used. I replaced all of the above. Still haven't gotten to the fuel filter yet. But now the van emits white smoke. It did not before, so I'm wondering if it needs a timing adjustment as well. Also, one of the old plugs I pulled out had some gunk on it. It was from the 4th cylinder. What could be causing the smoke?  

more than likely a bad intake manifold gasket... they are KNOWN to go bad...  not an easy job..   please use care...  as there is a large amount of engine coolant in a passage under where the throttle body mounts.. without knowing its there.. when you lift off the intake it always pours on top of the lifters and push rods and down into the oil pan..

at one point there were so many cars with bad gaskets that the entire industry ran out of them for a smaller V6 motor..  the replacements are a much better design..




could also need a replacement heater hose quick connect...



if the heater hose quick connect breaks off in the manifold when trying to disconnect the hose..... there is a tool like this to get the broken off piece out of the intake..



wait.. why is he telling me all this extra stuff..    hmm...    been there.. fixed it...

you could also have a cracked head.. its been known to happen..

if you are burning coolant.. you will also need to change the Oxygen sensors..   after you have started the engine and burned off any coolant that got through the engine..   coolant will damage the oxygen sensors and also the catalytic converters..

you can  borrow from many parts stores a radiator pressure tester.. pump it to 7 or 8 pounds of pressure.. see if it holds..

look for leaks..

do you still have the spark plug you removed..??? you can take a picture of it.. post it to photobucket..  then paste the 4th link down here..  

one additional warning..  if the last spark plug is on the passenger side..  and the engine has been burning coolant..

there are solids in coolant that will cause the pistons rings to close and hang up lowing the compression in that cylinder..