Blown Head Gasket?

[gbarrett]

I was driving from Naples, FL to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up some pyro stuff for a church thing this weekend. About halfway there my temp gauge started to climb. I was getting low on fuel and pulled into a gas station a few miles away. The temp gauge never made it to the red. When I stopped for gas, there was steam coming from the hood. Of course, I opened the hood and saw steam shooting from the oil fill tube, and chocolate milk shake on the bottom of the hood. The engine runs smoothly and the dipstick doesn't have any milkshake on it - just regular dark oil.

Before I pull the top of the engine down to replace head gaskets, should I look at anything else? Of course speed is of the essence here. If it is head gaskets, I want to have this fixed and running by Saturday.

Thanks,

Greg

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84 GW
Driveline is
Stock 360/727 combo.
New paint, carpet, stereo. Rhino grille, etc.

My Site (http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/index.html)

http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/Dcp00764a.jpg

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Yikes!! I would check first off if your coolant is down. Before you tear it down as you never said you checked that for proper level or if it had oil in it.

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1970 Wagoneer! Dauntless 350/Th 400/D20/44s. Posi In My Rear. Currently Getting A Frame Off Restore, And a Few Mods. The To Do List Is Longer Than The Wagoneer Is!!!!
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/106/4651773/990532060948_sigjeep.JPG

[Veepster]

isn't there water passages in the intake manifold? now if you blew an intake gasket, coolant could pass into the lifter valley and then blow out the oil tube......BUT if that occurred you would also have milkshake on the dipstick....hhhmmmmm

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Peace.............BartG

the Green Flash!
360ci
Custom 4v TBI
Edelbrock Performer Manifold,
TFI Upgrade,
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Thorley headers, 3" exhaust, Dyno Max
Infiniti power leather seats
Custom billet shift knob by Millerluck
50%Luxury Car, 50%Tractor
http://www.teamgodspeed.com

[gbarrett]

Coolant level was fine when I started on the trip. I don't see any oil in the radiator. Could it be something else? Steam comes from the oil filler neck on the block as soon as I start it (well, the engine was hot at the time). Is there something else it could be?

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84 GW
Driveline is
Stock 360/727 combo.
New paint, carpet, stereo. Rhino grille, etc.

My Site (http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/index.html)

http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/Dcp00764a.jpg

[Gladi8r]

Are you sure it is steam and not oil vapor coming from the filler tube??? Hold your hand up to the oil filler tube and let it collect on your hand and then you can tell if it is oil or water. If oil, I suspect a bad PCV valve. Rebuilt a 360 for my CJ7 years ago and fired it up without the PCV connected and noticed the same thing, thought I had a major overheating problem, but turned out to be oil mist instead of water http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

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DON

1988 GW mostly stock, <---Wifey's truck (won't let me "fix it up")

1971 J-4000,Rhino Grille(to be installed)
360 CID 2v, 245 HP, 365 ft/lb
T-18A, Dana 20, PTO, DANA 44 (Front/Rear)
71 Gladiator Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld2&.src=bc)

78 GW (parts truck)
360 4v Th400
Dana 44 F/R
78 Wagoneer Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld3&.src=bc)

[andy d]

also check the curved piece of htr hose that goes between the water pump and the front of the intake manifold.also the upper rad hose. these are very close to the oilfiller. if wunna them split the results could be similar to what you describe.if that doesnt yield any thing, pull the plugs and see if any have been steamed cleaned. try the cheap easy stuff 1st.

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'88 gwag,pure stock

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Well if you are not using coolant it is NOT a headgasket, sounds to me like common ring blowby. Your rings are wore and you are just blowing some of your compression into the crankcase. The only way to correct this is a re-ring job (rebuild) Do a standard compression check, then squirt a few suirts of motor oil down the sparkplug hole one cylinder at a time take the compression reading on it do all the cylinders this way (write all these readings down DRY / WET readings) if the compression readings are higher with the oiled cylinders your rings are bad. I have had blow by so bad it would blow the oil cap off as soon as I started it up.

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1970 Wagoneer! Dauntless 350/Th 400/D20/44s. Posi In My Rear. Currently Getting A Frame Off Restore, And a Few Mods. The To Do List Is Longer Than The Wagoneer Is!!!!
http://images.andale.com/f2/116/106/4651773/990532060948_sigjeep.JPG

[gbarrett]

Ok, I just came in from looking at the engine since it got off the tow truck. Here's the situation:

1. Radiator empty
2. Oil on dipstick looks normal
3. Started engine, runs normal - not missing, etc.
4. Filled radiator. Engine still runs normally. Did not run it long enough to get it hot.
5. Milkshake residue on inside of oil filler tube.
6. No new milkshake or steam from filler neck - probably due to not getting engine hot.
7. Water hoses intact - no holes.

Here's my mindset:
Engine was hot when milkshake got sprayed on underside of hood, followed by lots of steam. I think that water vapor was getting into engine and turning to steam before it mixed with oil. Does this make sense? Am I completely crazy? I don't want to disassemble this thing twice.

Thanks, guys.

Greg

------------------
84 GW
Driveline is
Stock 360/727 combo.
New paint, carpet, stereo. Rhino grille, etc.

My Site (http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/index.html)

http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/Dcp00764a.jpg

[This message has been edited by gbarrett (edited June 26, 2001).]

[Gladi8r]

If the oil on the dipstick looks normal, I would almost bet that the headgasket is fine. Prob just overheated like you said and that is what caused the milkshake on the filler pipe. Put some water in it and let it run til it warms up and see what ya got. Prob just a stuck thermostat that caused the overheat. Good Luck

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DON

1988 GW mostly stock, <---Wifey's truck (won't let me "fix it up")

1971 J-4000,Rhino Grille(to be installed)
360 CID 2v, 245 HP, 365 ft/lb
T-18A, Dana 20, PTO, DANA 44 (Front/Rear)
71 Gladiator Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld2&.src=bc)

78 GW (parts truck)
360 4v Th400
Dana 44 F/R
78 Wagoneer Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld3&.src=bc)

[reddog]

If there is milkshake on the hood does that mean you do not have a cap on the oil filler tube?

First I would pull all the spark plugs like Andy said and look at them. Then have someone turn the engine over while you watch to make sure nothing sprays out the sparkplug holes.

If the crankcase oil shows no signs of water and the radiator is truly empty then my best guess would be that there is something going on with your intake manifold and the water is turning to vapor and getting blown out the oil filler tube before much of it gets into the crankcase. Maybe somehow the water jacket in the intake manifold that passes right by the oil filler tube is leaking into the tube - possibly the thermostat area. What shape are you rings in?? Do you have much blowby or is your PVC valve clogged?

It is likely that if the head gasket was blown you would see oil in the crankcase. With an empty radiator there would be too much water down there to have no sign of it in the crankcase oil.


Kerry


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87 GW - Stock (but it looks like RiverBeast when I'm sleeping)
TFI upgrade
360,727,NP229

[gbarrett]

Ok, I've slept thinking about this - it's amazing what comes to mind during one's sleep. This may be confusing but I do have a thought on the matter.

After I filled the radiator, I saw no bubbles in the radiator while the engine was running. The engine runs just as it always has - STRONG!

I was searching for gasket sets and I haven't seen intake gaskets included with the set. Are the intake gaskets nothing more than RTV sealant? If so, that would be a logical conclusion. (the rear of intake has been seeping oil for a while)

Now the big question: Since I have to remove the intake, should I not go ahead and change the head gaskets while I'm there or is that too much work for little gain?

I'm supposed to drive to Oklahoma next month with the family and the kids want to take "daddy's truck" on the trip (1600 miles). Needless to say, this shook up the wife a bit.

Thanks guys - you're the best!

Greg

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84 GW
Driveline is
Stock 360/727 combo.
New paint, carpet, stereo. Rhino grille, etc.

My Site (http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/index.html)

http://home.earthlink.net/~getoverit/Dcp00764a.jpg

[Gladi8r]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but as I recall from my last rebuild(many years ago) the intake gasket is actually an integral part of the valley pan?? The valley pan has a crush style gasket around the openings for the intake manifold. Could be wrong, I slept since then http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
DON

1988 GW mostly stock, <---Wifey's truck (won't let me "fix it up")

1971 J-4000,Rhino Grille(to be installed)
360 CID 2v, 245 HP, 365 ft/lb
T-18A, Dana 20, PTO, DANA 44 (Front/Rear)
71 Gladiator Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld2&.src=bc)

78 GW (parts truck)
360 4v Th400
Dana 44 F/R
78 Wagoneer Pics (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/gladi8r1971?d&.flabel=fld3&.src=bc)