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Just picked my 84 f250 with the 6.9 up from the shop having a freeze plug replaced. It was the one behind the oil cooler and they pulled it in order to reach the plug and reinstalled it with a new gasket. The truck started up just fine when I picked up the truck I was on my 20 minute drive home. As I was pulling into the driveway it suddenly dumped a ton of white smoke. I shut it off but it will not start now. It has a slow crank buy that's it.
My first thought is that the oil cooler they removed is now mixing. I do have coolant in my oil now. But would that stop the truck from starting? I'm new to diesels so I was hoping y'all would have some ideas I can try before I can call the shop Monday as they are closed over the weekend.
I think your right about the issures should be separate, not sure if they changed the oil and coolant while they had the cooler off. That could cause enough to get mixed and seen, it's pretty hard to install the cooler improperly even if it's a tight fit.
How reputable is the shop? Sure it wasn't just some kid and he reused the gaskets or something?
It is a huge diesel shop, they had more trucks than my local ford dealership. Per my invoice: oil changed, coolant, oil cooler gasket set, and freeze plug was charged.
I did notice that both of my fuel tanks are below 1/4 tank. I will try filling one up and hope it's a bad pick up tube for the starting problems.
You do NOT want to leave coolant in your oil. Coolant dilutes the oil and it will ruin your bearings. Something must have happened, either during their work or after, that caused this. Yes, it's probably separate from the no-start, but I would be on the phone with that shop ASAP.
After getting home from work today I've been doing some researching. I believe my engine was hydrolocked. I watched a YouTube video of a hydrolocked engine being started and it was the exact same as mine. Ive tried to start it several times already. How sturdy are these engines? Did I just trash my engine or could it have survived? I will be calling the shop when they open Monday morning and hope for the best.
Theyre about as tough as they come, but liquid doesnt compress, so usually the rods do. Trying to figure out how playin with the oil cooler and changing a freeze plug can cause it to hydrolock, especially while running. That really isnt possible without alot of liquid getting in the intake. My cousin in law had a 6.5 that was cavitated, he drove it all the time. Go out to start it and would have to bump the starter a dozen times because a cylinder was full of coolant. Eventually it would turn over and fire and after a few minutes the bad cylinder would start firing. Drove it that way forever, dunno how it didnt wipe the bottom end, not that it really mattered.