Hello All,
I need massive help! My car hates me. It is a 2000 Ford Focus zx3. It is stock, I've done nothing to it but replace whatever breaks with OEM parts. My thermostat recently went out, and my car was fixed and was running fine, a little on the colder side but fine. Christmas night I went out, and on the way home I could feel my car "surge" for lack of a better term, I assumed it was the transmission slipping, considering it was just replaced back in June. I drove it again last night and it was still "surging" but it was doing it more and worse. I only drove it about 20 miles, my service engine light came on. Right as I was almost home I started smelling oil, which started off as just a hint and got much worse after 5 minutes. Once the oil smell got stronger I noticed that my car sounded like it is running on 3 cylinders instead of 4. My father-in-law has driven the car and told me he thinks it is my exhaust backing up and choking out the engine. I thought it was the head gasket, but I checked the oil, and it is clean. I'm not sure what is going on, but I hope someone can help me. I would love to try to save this car and turn it into my project car.