Just bought a 03 4.7 auto. That smokes white at take off. Not at idle and it lasts upto about 10 mph. It also has a slight knocking. I was told it was the timing chain tensioner.

Would the white smoke be caused by a bad plenum?

This is my first dodge ever owned.

Thanks

 

White smoke=coolant in the combustion chamber. 4.7 with coolant in the combustion chamber=Blown head gasket at least, warped head at worst.

 

I havent noticed coolant loss. Oil yes.
But ive only had the truck for 2 weeks.

Its just a little smoke. Atleast its not the rings.

 

Well, depending on how cold it is where you are, white smoke is normal when the engine is cold on acceleration. If said smoke smells sweet, it is coolant. Or if the smoke is still present in excess when the engine is warm, it's coolant. The knocking could be the timing, or it could be something else.

 

Smells bad. Not sure if sweet. I live in south texas. Super hot down here.

 

Texas, huh, well it's not condensation. My money is on head/head gasket.

 

Sounds like you bought a headache. Hope you bought it cheap.

Doing a forum or even Google search will yield lots of threads on 4.7s with blown head gaskets with the symptoms of rough idle and smoking (white)

 

Not too worried about the head gasket. Aslong as its not the piston rings.

 

Piston rings wont be white, it would be blue from oil.

Do a compression test to see what condition your rings and valve train are in

 

Not worried about the head gasket? Why?