Head Gasket Blown?

[dusty76]

Well i started the truck (95 ex ltd) one day, and it sputtered! As i drive around i realize my mileage is at 10 mpg instead of 17mpg. I'm going through antifreeze like crazy, and water out the the pipe. It's been a month now, and for better or worse, nothing has changed. How do i find out for sure if i have a blown head gasket? Now, if this is my problem, do i buy another engine, or do i replace the gasket? What am i getting myself into?

Dusty

 

[skoal_mint]

well check you oil for any coolant and for a pressure test first..

 

[87vert]

if you find coolant in the oil STOP DRIVING THE TRUCK... even thought it may already be too late if so. the coolant will kill the bearings. is it 4.0 or 5.0 motor? I've done head gaskets on a 5.0 a number of times beit on a mustang with twin turbos. Took me about 6 hours start to finish for both heads. Gaskets are about 10bux but you might aswell and change all the other gaskets you come across while you are at it.

 

[Papa]

Water in your oil will increase the volume some, probably turn it a light brown color and trash your engine if you do not get it out. Checking your spark plugs for abnormalities and a leak down test may also help depending on how the head gasket blows out. Hydro lock is also a real possibility and that will realy trash your engine.

 

[410Fortune]

well you can get later model 4.0L OHV's at the junk yard for el cheapo, so if its toasted this may be the best route. I recently put a 97 4.0L into a 95 truck with this same issue, allthough his truck would not run due to severe hydrolocking.

Pull the plugs, turn the engine over, see if coolant spits out.....
also apparently if you have the rad cap off and you crank the starter, if coolant flies out the top of the rad this also points to blown head gasket, cracked heads.

Was the truck overheated?

95 only had one engine.....V8 was in 96 and SOHC was in 97