Possible Head gasket/cracked head - Suggestions?

[LBarr2002]

I've been fighting some problems with my '92. Since the Crozet trip in '06 it has run hot when using the a/c or when towing, climbing hills, etc. I've flushed it, put in electric fan, changed water pump over the past couple years, and it hasn't made any difference. Seems to be getting worse. Lately its loosing water pretty quick, but no signs of leaking.

The more I think about the symptoms its looking more and more like an internal leak. I fired it in the garage the other day, and it puffed a little white smoke. If it sits for a week or so, its hard to turn over initially. If I floor it, I smell coolant.

The motor has 23X,x.. miles on it, so I know its going to need a full rebuild if I pull the heads to check them out, and I really don't want to mess with that right now. I'd eventually like to swap in a 5.0, but I can't do it right now and I don't want to spend a bunch of money on the old 4.0. I also don't want to go get a remanufactured engine, and 'low milage' 4.0's are getting harder and harder to find.

So, from some reading and searching I'm seeing that there is no way to determine if it is a gasket or a crack without pulling the heads...right? Has anyone ever used something like the Bars Leak head repair? It says you have to flush all the antifreeze and its says to let is sit a day or two, so I'd need to wait till it warms up some to be safe. I'm hoping it could be a temporary fix to make it last till I find the perfect 5.0 donor truck.

Any suggestions?

 

[Blee1099]

I've been fighting some problems with my '92. Since the Crozet trip in '06 it has run hot when using the a/c or when towing, climbing hills, etc. I've flushed it, put in electric fan, changed water pump over the past couple years, and it hasn't made any difference. Seems to be getting worse. Lately its loosing water pretty quick, but no signs of leaking.

The more I think about the symptoms its looking more and more like an internal leak. I fired it in the garage the other day, and it puffed a little white smoke. If it sits for a week or so, its hard to turn over initially. If I floor it, I smell coolant.

The motor has 23X,x.. miles on it, so I know its going to need a full rebuild if I pull the heads to check them out, and I really don't want to mess with that right now. I'd eventually like to swap in a 5.0, but I can't do it right now and I don't want to spend a bunch of money on the old 4.0. I also don't want to go get a remanufactured engine, and 'low milage' 4.0's are getting harder and harder to find.

So, from some reading and searching I'm seeing that there is no way to determine if it is a gasket or a crack without pulling the heads...right? Has anyone ever used something like the Bars Leak head repair? It says you have to flush all the antifreeze and its says to let is sit a day or two, so I'd need to wait till it warms up some to be safe. I'm hoping it could be a temporary fix to make it last till I find the perfect 5.0 donor truck.

Any suggestions?

Try doing a compression check on each cylinder..

 

[goldshock]

my x was using a good amount of antifreeze and i couldnt find any leaks either my dad is a mechanic and he told me about these tablets from GM that you crush up and put in your antifreeze, you dont have to drain the whole system just enough to get the crushed tablets in and you let them in. so far it hasnt used any coolant at all. my buddy quit driving his explorer cuz i was using water, he put them in and he is driving it everyday. they cost like $6 from my local GM dealer just crush them up and drive for like an hour, it smells like someone is making french fries cuz theyre made from vegetable oil but they work great. dont know if this helps at all but here is a website that sells them, or you could try a GM dealership. http://paceperformance.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=41538

 

[arco777]

Re:

I used BARS on my Explorer.

When I got the X, coolant would dribble out onto the ground after startup and then after a minute would be jetting as steam against the passenger side firewall. I used a bottle of BARS Stop Leak and cycled it through as instructed. Took about 10 minutes. The steam jet slowed down after one engine on/off cycle and quit the next, and the car seemed quite driveable though still blew some vapor out the exhaust (seemed to be lessening each time).

I did replace the heads immediately, and sort of regret putting the stop leak in as I've heard it can clog and constrict the coolant passageways. After the new heads and several thousand miles, no problems since.

I think BARS would be fine on a motor you don't care too much about... or if your X isn't your only car.

 

[LBarr2002]

I'm planning on taking it to a mud bog fun day this weekend... and I won't be easy on it. So I'll see what it does and then I'll do the compression check next week if its still in one piece.

 

[cculter]

I would get a cheap junkyard motor to hold you over untill you can put the 5.0 in.

 

[LBarr2002]

I've got bigger more important problems now... Its pooring power steering and transmission fluid...

 

[jd4242]

I've got bigger more important problems now... Its pooring power steering and transmission fluid...

what from where?do you know if both heads are cracked?my rebuild head just cracked on mine but just one side,i think!! you can get two new 95tm from Alabama head for $460 to your door!!

 

[LBarr2002]

The steering box is pouring fluid at the bottom shaft seal, and tranny fluid is pouring out of the bell housing.

 

[LBarr2002]

Steering box is replaced now. Talked to the transmission guy and worked out a time to get the transmission checked out.

The heads...I pulled all plugs, all are black and dry. Compression was good on all 6. So apparently no head leak...now what?

 

[seth247]

Restricted radiator?

 

[LBarr2002]

I'm going to check the heater core next. If that's it it can't be leaking much. I've got the get the tranny seal replaced this week, then I'll get back to the water loss.