After nearly 4 years without driving it....

We were out gardening in the city plots, when I realized I forgot something back at home. Mrs said she'd got get it (3 miles away).

She was gone 10 mins and arrived back and the engine was smoking pretty good. I popped the hood but couldn't see any leaks or obvious source of the smoke.

Her only comment was 'you really have to push on the brakes to stop this thing'. You'd have to know her, but she's a 'full throttle/full brake' kinda driver. I on the other hand, drive like a 90 yr old.

Once we got home I did some checking. I was hoping her 5000rpm runs were just burning off some remnant oil off the block or headers...

I opened the coolant reservoir to find chocolate milk. Level was higher than normal (last I checked).

Head gasket?

 

That really sucks man, hate to hear this kind of stuff.

Looks like a head gasket or cracked head. You could pull all the plugs and do a cylinder pressure test. Also inspect the plugs.

Other than that, Im not familiar enough with the V10 config to know what other fail would mix those fluids.

And, this is one reason my wife wont drive mine, if its going to go wrong, it'll happen when shes driving.....

 

Awe crap, bro.

Stewart

 

oof. RIP V10.

If its in the overflow tank, it's been like that a long time already and she just happened to be driving when it couldn't take it anymore.

 

bummer, the ol head gasget milkshake is never fun.

 

Could be the oil cooler has failed.
I would start there since it is much easier & cheaper than swapping head gaskets.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...il+cooler,2084

 

From my experiences, like the others said, headgasket blew, head warped (odd unless it overheater for more than such a short trip) or the head cracked.

Might as well pull both heads, no sense in just doing one side unless budget is tight, and redo the top end. That sucks, but not terrible to do, shop rates kinda suck for that though.

Just blame the wife and spend extra to upgrade the whole top end, tell her the turbos will help keep it cooler so it doesn't happen again.

 

I'm not sure where the term "lady luck" comes from but they seem to be able to drain out luck away

 

My first thought (and hope too!). Give that cooler a try Sean.

 

I don't remember the mix ratio, but liquid dishwasher detergent works really good to clean the cooling system. Make sure you triple rinse it to get all the detergent out.

 

Thanks guys, appreciate the ideas, thoughts and humor.

 

Your wife got the cummins swap started for ya, she's a keeper, what's the problem?

 

Sorry my friend! It's the worst when something happens to the vehicle we love! Hoping for the best for you!

 

Spent an afternoon getting compression numbers below. The Harbor freight compression tester needed 1/8” of filing around the plug end.

Ordered the oil cooler piece, should arrive this week.

When I pulled the lower radiator hose, coolant came out clean until the end when the milk shake drained from the overflow tank. Guess that make sense, oil floats?

 

Replaced the oil cooler and no issues since.

Use a 1/2” hex wrench to remove the cooler.