I've read the FAQ's to death, as I am not much of a mechanic it is a bit overwhelming. Today my car is on the verge of a meltdown.

About 40 miles into my trip today I got stuck in traffic. After about 20 minutes at idle my car appeared to be a Stanley Steamer, directly out of the tail pipe.
The car a 1989, 760 Intercooled Turbo wagon was begging me to pull over and have a smoke. After thinking a bit I checked the oil for water, it was looking fine. The water tank was still in the clear, and the temp gauge never did show any signs of getting hot. I decided to get the car off of the freeway and so babied it about 5 miles to the service station. I figured I'd let it cool and then make my move. A little open road and the steam went away. All the time getting farther from home. Finished out my trip and now I am 70 miles from home. The exhaust manifold seemed to be a thousand degrees upon arrival at my final destination, spit evaporates practically before it hits it and the oil is burning off like a self cleaning oven.

The symptoms are steamy carrying soot or smoke briefly.
followed by a sizzling hot exhaust system. I have some ideas as to what is wrong but I think I better ask up first.

I need a bit of help diagnosing this one. And I need to get home by Sunday.