Oil censor lights up

engine went boom --most likely blew engine [[test and look for where coolant and oil are coming from --head gasket-crack block -radiator -

Check you coolant white smoke usually means that antifreeze is getting burnt. The ooil might be going into coolant or being burnt.

Where to start,
- Check exhaust
-- Blueish smoke, Could be Fried Cylendar Rings, Verify With Compression test - Also check if the oil level is going down
-- White Smoke, Could be spark plugs, wires, or coil pack
--- Check oil for a white or brownish foam, if so head or intake gasket.

- if 3.4L, intake gaskets are a common issue, sometimes you can hear it sucking if you accelerate from the throttle body. (Be carefull, moving parts!)

- See if vehicle is having a problem with climbing over a certain RPM, If so
-- Plugged Fuel Filter
-- Plug Catalytic Converter
-- Plugged Air Filter

- If automatic
-- See if transmission is kicking down a gear during harder acceleration.

Also note that a bad TPS (Throttle Position Censor) located on the throttle body can cause this as well. Often felt as very poor acceleration or studdering during acceleration.

Failing O2 censor can cause an issue like this as well, unhooking the censor completely will put the car in a failure default setting that will allow it to operate close to normal, but make sure you replace it if it has failed to avoid replacing Catalytic Converter as well.

Start there, but it could be many other things as well. If check engine light is on, get it read. or pick up a code reader and read it yourself.

Good Luck

It could be doing its job, sounds like what you put in tank is problem. Oil change would not cause that. I would not worry unless it keeps going after fuels runs down.

If the smoke is only when you first start it I would be looking at your valve stem oil seals, this is no serious problem to your driving and with the right gear and knowledge can be changed in car . But if your smoke is more constant than the story changes, your oil control rings have failed and this needs an engine overhaul. 2 things you need to remember is fuel burns black, oil burns white and head gaskets show visible problems, water or air leaks both external and internal so your mechanic may be correct

Sounds like you might need a valve job.

White smoke is coolant being burnt in the cylinder,
most likely from a failed head gasket

I would think a 1989 is too old to fix
Cost more than the car is worth

Any oil useage between oil changes every
say 3000 to 4500 miles is too much,engine is
worn

Black smoke indicates you are running rich. You may have to address the fuel injectors to make sure one is not stuck open. After replacing the MAF censor this would be my next step. Also your turbo seal might be leaking causing your truck to run rich throwing off the o2 censor. Also you can get black smoke from turbo blowby. Not burning oil but actual oil passing the rear turbine seal and getting into the exhaust. This should give you a few good places to check out. Good luck to you.

Identifing the smoke color tells you where it is coming from. Black smoke comes from fuel, so it is running rich or not fully igniting the mixture. White smoke comes from oil and often happens under very heavy engine load. On acceleration this could be the piston rings allowing blow-by, on deceleration this could be the valve seals leaking. Blueish smoke is often coolant, indicating a head gasket leak.

You didn't state iof this happens during a moving gear change, or if it has happened since you physically changed some of the gears in the car. On a TDi, I would follow the factory recommendations for all engine lubricants and additives.

I hope that you had the proper weight oil installed, at your oil change. If your oil is up to the proper level, and it's rattling ,this is VERY bad. White smoke usually means steam in the exhaust, and that means a blown head gasket. Check your coolant level. I wouldn't drive it anymore......until someone knowledgeable can diagnose it!!!!!