Here's the background-  I was driving home one day with a lifter that
started tapping the day before. The engine runs a bit sluggish off and on,
nothing new-  I've always assumed it is the temp II sensor and/or the AFM.
The sluggishness didn't bother me much.  I was on the gas pedal completely
and looking out the rear-view mirror (a habbit I got into after dumping all
the oil out the back end of my diesel a couple times) when I notice a big
plume of white smoke!  I left off the accellerator and shut off the engine
immediately.  I was close enough to home that I coasted up the road and into
my driveway.

A day or so later, I started the engine to see how it behaved.  Simply
noisey lifter, nothing else seemingly out of the ordinary.  Days passed, and
eventually I replaced the lifter..  Now, I drive the vehicle and the lifter
is still noisey now and then. I probably need to readjust the valves now
that it filled with oil. (I failed to fill the lifter before installing it.
LIve and learn, right?)  Anyhow,  Tonight while driving to dinner with the
family, the engine felt very sluggish again. I was on the accelerator fully
(and looking out the rear-view-mirror) when I say the plume of white smoke
again!  I let off the pedal a good bit, and the smoke immediately stopped!

What in the world could this be?  The engine is relatively strong. It runs
evenly. Note, both times it's done this, I was full-throttle (ie, enrichment
switch was closed).

Any ideas?

Bradley Flubacher
State College, PA