Will someone shoot me.. I have had this truck a month.. saw a coolant leak at the radiator today and so I picked up a new radiator.. no big deal.. couple hours had it in and buttoned up..

Start it up.. and after a bit I noticed white smoke at the tail pipe. was unsure about this and then realized I had not hooked up the sensor on the air inlet.. not the one on bottom .. the one on the side looking back towards the firewall..
also the Check engine light is on now.. WHAT the heck!

could me wrenching on the water pump cause a leak there? I used a fan tool..

Did I get something hooked up wrong?

or did I just flat out blow a head gasket?

99 4.6 auto

Thanks for the help.

 

I doubt you did anything wrong. I'll bet it was already there and you didn't notice until you did your after-the-job confirmation sweep.

 

just curious.. I just had a thought..

its really foggy here.. wasn't too much when I saw this.. but really is now.. and wondering if i am mistaking the condensations?

also, could the check engine light have lit up because of the sensor ( whatever it is) I left unplugged. I plugged it back in after initial start up..

 

I have checked for a couple weeks after buying to make sure no leaks, smoking, or knocks.. I did a coolant flush last week and did not get any of this then either.. I assumed the radiator issue was due to my coolant flush.

 

The radiator leak was from a coolant flush, but it was already on its way. The heater core will be next as a result of your chemical flush. I would add a restrictor now, or at least verify you have one already. Don;t just assume its there.

The white smoke is just condensation. If concerned, monitor your coolant level and oil level.

The check engine is from the sensor being unplugged. Pull your battery terminal for a few min, and that light will go out, as long as it is plugged back in.

 

update:

today, I braved it and took it to work... on start up there was no steam or smoke.. after a bit I got normal (small amount) condensation for the temp and humidity.. I based this on all the other vehicles around me blowing the same condensation or more than me.. about 2 miles down the road I had no condensation at all.. after work, I drove it 6 miles across town to return a rent a tool fan clutch tool.. and no smoke and checked the CEL.. it was IAT or something to that effect was high.. I'm guessing this was the sensor I had unhooked.. I cleared it.. not back yet.

while i was there I wanted to check the filler cap for white residue.. there was some.. not much.. none on the dip stick.. normal oil.. I checked at the top the oil on the stick for any residue.. none. If I lost any coolant I did not lose much.. I was about an inch below the bottom line after re installing the radiator.. and needed more.. when I checked at the store I was not much below that.. so I filled it up while I was at the store..
I drove it 7 miles home no smoke... turned it off.. level was identical..

is it possible I just had a freak leak that needed to get engine back to temp to seal??? I bought some more oil and Im going to change the oil tomorrow...

 

ok, just talked to a guy, he says that a little milky residue is very common in these engines.. that it is due to the tall neck on the filler allowing moisture to get up there and stay on SHORT runs.. I checked last night and I didn't have any.. but after these couple 6 mile or so runs.. I did.. he said to go ahead and change the oil and take it on a 30 or 40 mile gentle cruise. that it should resolve any issues... or tell if I am having issues.. he thinks its likely that I do not have an issue.. and if It did not smoke at all today .. I did smell the exhaust .. it just smelt like exhaust.

so forddiesel69 it looks like you might of been right. Thanks for the advise..

 

Also please use Motorcraft Premium Gold, or if your store have Zerex G-05 it is a better coolant that will be easier on the heater core. You don;t have to to it this minute but when the weather gets better.

As long as you did not use dexcool or Prestone all-makes-and models.

 

Just curious. What is in the Prestone that is not any good? I have used that stuff forever in everything, even my motorcycle.

 

Keep in mind that I myself have not submitted a vigin sample for analysis, but from what others on bobistheoilguy have discovered, is that prestone all makes and models is GM Dexcool formula rebranded and dyed green to make it more confusing for people.

Dexcool has too many disadvantages to list.