I'm going to give you some history before the problem as I think it may help. I have a 1985 F-150 with a 302. The vin is F. The engine has 55k original miles. I purchased it two years ago with 35k miles. It had been sitting in a barn for who knows how long without being driven. It ran fine but smoked a little. I gave it a tune up and replaced the basics, plugs, wires, distributor cap, filters, etc. A bottle of oil treatment took care of the smoking.

I have been suspicious of a head gasket lead the last 6 months. When I exit the highway and come to a stop at a light the truck stalls out before I come to a complete stop. This only happens in cold weather (30 and below). I have also noticed a small amount of I believe coolant in the oil. Occasionally two of the plugs are a little wet also. Not sure if it is coolant or not. There is also occasionally a small amount of liquid coming out my tail pipe.

My water pump went bad and was leaking a bit so I was going to replace the water pump. I drained the coolant and put in a product that was supposed to help "flush the engine". The directions said to drain the collant, add the bottle to the system and fill the rest with water. Then it said to drive it for 3 to 6 hours. I drove it about 30 minutes and it stalled out. The temperature had risen, but not too extreme. The truck never started again. I drained the coolant out of the engine and the engine fired right up and ran for a few seconds, before I shut it off.

I suspect coolant was getting in the plugs due to a blown head gasket. I'm thinking this flush product I bought finished off the head gasket for me.

I also had recently checked compression. 6 cylinders were at 150 and two were at 140. My initial low reading started out around 50 to 60 with all cylinders and gradually rose to the max reading after a couple cranks.

I believe this is pure head gasket and no other issues other than all my gaskets and seals are worn from the truck sitting so long. The engine simply needs rebuilt. Does anyone agree or have another opinion? I've never rebuilt an engine and am concerned about if the heads and the block are ok. How do I know? I know I can have the heads checked out by a machine shop, but what about the block?

 

There is only one thing you mentioned that I can possibly attribute to a blown head gasket - water
in the oil. You should also have oil in the radiator.

A leak down test would be a good diagnostic tool here, but I honestly have a hard time attributing
the running problems you describe to a blown head gasket.

 

Hello, How long did the truck set? If for a long time say over several years condensation could have built up in the crankcase. Also what color is the oil? Is it grayish in color? I have never seen coolant flush "eat" away at a head gasket although that may be possible...Was the water pump or thermostat froze up? I agree with ctubutis...I would do a leak down test...check the oil color...check for oil in radiator...check radiator closely...could be partially plugged...Also if the truck has been setting for a long time...How old is the gas...condensation can set in there also...plus fuel lines and carb could be "varnished" up. So any or most of these especially the old gas...carb..could attribute to the running problem...not a blown head gasket...but the gasket could need replacing...I would check the water in gas, oil, etc...to start.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Pete

 

BTW...if the truck has been sitting for a long time...the compression problem could be attributed to the rings needing to "reseat" in the cylinders...the need to kinda "float" free in their piston slots...they could be "frozen" due to all lubricity lost in the cylinders while the thing set for all those years...the cylinder walls kinda rusted up so to speak...

Pete

 

I'm not necessarily saying the running problems was from the head gasket I'm just trying to give a full background. The truck hesitated a little bit when pulling loads and just didn't run with the power I know it is capable of. I was thinking head gasket, because the evidence of fluid in the oil. It has been slight and seems to take an entire oil change to build up a bit. Nothing to the point of getting that chocolate milk sort of look under the cap though.

I just filled the truck with coolant again and the truck ran and eventually stalled again. The truck won't start. I'm sure if I drain the fluid again I can get it running again.

All I can think is the coolant is getting in with the plugs. Is there any other thing that could be going on that would prevent the engine from running with coolant in it?

 

This is a 1985 with a 302, that means it has some sort of computer-controlled engine - be it a feedback carburetor or EFI.

Ask the computer what it thinks is going on, instructions at
Ford Fuel Injection

My personal suspicion is some sort of temperature sensor is involved....

 

If you're running fine until temps get higher then I would agree with ctubutis, sounds like some sort of temp. sensor issue.