Engine not running right....

[audiodude332001]

Hey everyone, I am going to be picking up another Explorer tommorow evening. It is a 92 with 146k miles on it, an auto tranny, and it is also 4 wheel drive. There is something wrong with the motor though. The guy that Im buying it from said that it started acting up after a hole got in the radiator, and he just kept adding water to it rather than coolant. When you start the truck up, a small stream of water runs out the exhaust pipe. The motor runs really rough. Do you think that maybe since he kept adding water rather than coolant, that maybe it blew the head gasket and allowed water into a cylinder or something, and that is why water comes out the exhaust pipe upon startup? Im not really sure, but Im hoping that I can fix this for really cheap. He is selling the truck to me for only $300, so I am hoping to fix it so I can drive it around rather than my explorer with 32's, so maybe I can get some better gas mileage. Any input would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[DMan446]

It could be a possible bad gasket, or the downside is he might have craked the block.

 

[audiodude332001]

But if he cracked the block, would the engine stay running? Also, the engine only runs really rough upon startup. After it is warm it idles fine.

 

[MrShorty]

The engine could still run with cracked heads/blown head gasket. I would suggest a cylinder leakdown test to make sure the head gasket/heads are still in good condition. Any sign of water/coolant in the oil?

 

[audiodude332001]

Well, I just got it home tonight at about 10:00, so I havent had a chance to investigate anything yet. We towed it home. So tommorow I will check the oil and see if there are any signs of water or coolant. I really hope its just a head or a head gasket, cause I have a set of heads off of my old motor just sitting in the garage, and they are in great shape.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[audiodude332001]

Ok, so tonight it was raining like crazy so I didnt have much of a chance to do much, but I checked the oil and it was pure white, so I will start tearing it down to the heads this week to see if I can find the problem. I took out all the spark plugs and only one was bad. The passenger side front spark plug had the contact completely burnt off of it. So I will tear off that head and see if the head cracked or if the gasket blew.

If the actual block was cracked, would the engine still run? I really am hoping that the block is not cracked.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[DMan446]

If the oil was white, then it is getting water in it. Which means its prolly just the head gasket or possible cracked head. I mentioned cracked block in my first post but meant head. It is possible to have a cracked block, but not likely. The heads go first cuz they are aluminum, the block is solid steel. Sorry to get you all paranoid about the block....

And yes, It could run with a cracked head, block and blown head gasket. Would hate to see how lousy that idle would be......lol

 

[audiodude332001]

Wheew. Thanks for the correction. I was worried that the block might be cracked. I dont care if the head is cracked though. Cause I have an extra set of heads off of my old motor from my other explorer. Ya, it has to be water in with the oil that is making it white.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[DMan446]

Whats happening is the water gets in the oil and when the engine it running it gets it all frothed up. And as we know oil and water do not chemically mix. So it just turns into that milknasty. If you pull the dip stick you should see little beads of water and possibly rust spots on it. Easiest indication of water, other than the color.