Blown head gasket?
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Blown head gasket?
New member so not sure if posting in the correct category.
1997 F150 5.4 L Triton 120,000 miles
No issues with the engine until yesterday. I left the truck idling for maybe 20 min. I don't remember looking at the temp when I shut it off but didn't notice anything unusual. Started it back up maybe ten minutes later and immediately was smoking. There is an exhaust leak right after the manifold so white "smoke" was filling the cab area and coming from he exhaust.
Assuming it overheated while idling and I didn't see the temp or wasn't reading accuarately because of low coolant not pushing coolant to to the temp sender.
So...today, I thought I don't want the water/af siting in the engine until I get to this so... drained the coolant(not sure how much came out) and changed the oil. Oil did not look to have water in it but possible. Started it with new oil and no coolant briefly just to coat with oil and get rid of any excess water. Ran for a couple of minutes and still blowing whites smoke. Minute or two longer and still smoking. Why would I still have smoke out the exhaust with no coolant? Just residual in the system being drawn in the cylinder? Burning oil not coolant? I may try to do the head gasket but don't want to do all of that work if not the issue.
Thanks!
1997 F150 5.4 L Triton 120,000 miles
No issues with the engine until yesterday. I left the truck idling for maybe 20 min. I don't remember looking at the temp when I shut it off but didn't notice anything unusual. Started it back up maybe ten minutes later and immediately was smoking. There is an exhaust leak right after the manifold so white "smoke" was filling the cab area and coming from he exhaust.
Assuming it overheated while idling and I didn't see the temp or wasn't reading accuarately because of low coolant not pushing coolant to to the temp sender.
So...today, I thought I don't want the water/af siting in the engine until I get to this so... drained the coolant(not sure how much came out) and changed the oil. Oil did not look to have water in it but possible. Started it with new oil and no coolant briefly just to coat with oil and get rid of any excess water. Ran for a couple of minutes and still blowing whites smoke. Minute or two longer and still smoking. Why would I still have smoke out the exhaust with no coolant? Just residual in the system being drawn in the cylinder? Burning oil not coolant? I may try to do the head gasket but don't want to do all of that work if not the issue.
Thanks!
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From: Big Easy
Typically when a head gasket cooling system failure occurs, it loads the exhaust system with ......... coolant. It can take a while to clear even after repair.
Many are the times I would look in the rear view mirror on test drive imagining James Bond would be proud of the smoke screen after repairing the engine of such failure.
Usually clears up pretty quick if you can get up to hwy speed.
.
Many are the times I would look in the rear view mirror on test drive imagining James Bond would be proud of the smoke screen after repairing the engine of such failure.
Usually clears up pretty quick if you can get up to hwy speed.
.
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Smoke is white. I didn't think it was overheating because the gauge was ok. ...but my guess is that coolant was low and I wasn't reading accurately because coolant wasn't flowing by the sender.
There has definitely been a coolant leak around the intake manifold(not sure where exactly) could this be causing coolant to be burned or are we still thinking head gasket?
There has definitely been a coolant leak around the intake manifold(not sure where exactly) could this be causing coolant to be burned or are we still thinking head gasket?
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From: Washington
A common sign of coolant leaking in to a cylinder is clean spark plugs and combustion chamber. You might pull the plugs and see what you find. If it's a head gasket it will be one or two cylinders. If it's a leak in to the intake system it will be more.
Do the TB's on these trucks ever crack and leak in to the intake system? I know that some heated TB's do.
Do the TB's on these trucks ever crack and leak in to the intake system? I know that some heated TB's do.
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Pulled a couple of plugs today. Two front pass side plugs, the side I saw the coolant from exhaust. Ive never replaced heads but this truck seems especially difficult because of how the cab hangs forward over the engine bay. Not sure it's worth al the work. If definitely head gaskets, should I just drive the truck into the river?
Possible that intake manifold gasket or some seal in the intake allows coolant in to be burned ? Can't seem to find info on how this is possible? There is definitely a leak under the tb but not sure how coolant gets drawn into the intake and burned?
Last edited by Blase-On; Jan 18, 2019 at 06:07 AM.
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Exhaust gas test/comp test Pass side 175 180 175 180
Couple of follow up questions....
I attempted an exhaust gas test but may be inconclusive. There is no radiator cap, will the overflow tank be the same for testing purposes? Also, coolant was drained so it is currently empty. I ran the engine for a few minutes with the tester in the coolant tank, attempting to pull exhaust gases out, if present. Fluid didn't change color but I'm not sure if the test conditions ( no coolant) affected the test. My thoughts were that the system is closed so if exhaust is being pushed by the head gasket, shouldn't matter if there is coolant on the system.
Also measured compression on 6 cylinders:
Pass side
175
180
175
180
Driver side
185
180
175
185
So...compression is good. Going to pressure test cooling system tomorrow.
I attempted an exhaust gas test but may be inconclusive. There is no radiator cap, will the overflow tank be the same for testing purposes? Also, coolant was drained so it is currently empty. I ran the engine for a few minutes with the tester in the coolant tank, attempting to pull exhaust gases out, if present. Fluid didn't change color but I'm not sure if the test conditions ( no coolant) affected the test. My thoughts were that the system is closed so if exhaust is being pushed by the head gasket, shouldn't matter if there is coolant on the system.
Also measured compression on 6 cylinders:
Pass side
175
180
175
180
Driver side
185
180
175
185
So...compression is good. Going to pressure test cooling system tomorrow.
Last edited by Blase-On; Mar 2, 2019 at 09:06 PM.
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System loses pressure but slowly...17 to 15 psi in about 10 min. I thought maybe I could hear a leak or it would drop fast if there was a bad intake gasket.
Last edited by Blase-On; Mar 3, 2019 at 02:44 PM.