Okay, let's start here: I have no idea what I'm doing. Guessing that will become super clear below.

Here’s my scoop, I have this ’85 F250 6.9. I’ve had it for 15 years or so and it’s been mostly an occasional driver for picking up lumber, concrete, etc. But not a daily driver.

Now, I needed it to be a daily driver.

So rewind about a month ago, I drove it on the highway and it started to overheat. Figured I needed to attend to it and sort it out.

I’m a total amateur when it comes to working on cars. I’m relying on the generosity of folks like on forums to sort stuff out.

I figured I’d tackle the easy stuff: thermostat, water pump, possibly fan clutch.

Replaced thermostat (motorcraft) and new water pump. Fan clutch was okay.

That led me to discover I had a pretty sizeable coolant leak from my oil cooler (had rusted through and coolant was leaking directly out at the rear connection).




Swapped the cooler. Note: at this point there didn't appear to be any coolant in the oil when I drained it and swapped the oil filter.

Put some new coolant in it, new belts, new radiator hoses, oil filter, etc.

Got the truck running, drove it to work (freeway), ran hot but never out of "normal", but when I got there it spit out a bunch of coolant from the overflow tank. I replaced coolant and a couple days later drove to work again.

Here’s where the trouble really starts.

I was watching the temp gauge like a hawk, worried about overheating. Temp never got above half way… but . . . I started smelling smoke. At first I figured it may have been just coolant I’d spilled buring off engine.

Nope.

Pulled over, engine totally smoking. Popped the oil cap and it looked like there was coolant in the oil.

Truck wouldn’t start.

Got it towed back home - where it’s sitting now.

So I’m assuming I blew a head gasket. I’m assuming that there was a head gasket issue at the top of this whole thing (in part why it spit out coolant and was running hot).

Does that sound right?

I’m trying to figure out if its time to give up on this truck.

I don’t have a ton of money to throw at the problem.

So I guess I’m wondering:
1. Does this sound like a head gasket to you?
2. If it is a headgasket what am I looking at (big ballpark) to have work like that done?
3. Anything else it could be?

I know this is an impossible set of questions to ask without you seeing the truck but I’m at one of those forks in the road.

Any advice/intel you can provide, I’d be grateful.

 

Did you swap in a used Oil Cooler? picked up one from the junk yard?
Did you replace the 4 "O" Rings. How did you put it together if you did?
Iam thinking you are getting coolant/oil mix from the OC.

You have another thread about the OC, I remember the picture.


Charlie

 

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I found a junked oil cooler. Ended up only using that that rear bracket and reused my front bracket and cooler. I put new ford o-rings on and a new gasket.

Now, I did have some trouble getting the oil cooler back together. Initially I tried the ratchet strap method and only had luck getting one of the brackets to slide on. Ended up buying a shop press at Harbor Freight to do the second one.

Is it possible I damaged an o-ring in that? I guess. I checked after each attempt and didn't see anything.

I've sort of just left the truck sitting out of frustration (and $$ fear!).

I'm guessing that testing coolant for combustion gasses is a next step.

If the source of the coolant in the oil was a faulty o-ring in the cooler, would the coolant test negative for combustion gasses? Would that be a way to trouble shoot?

 

You could have cut/nicked an O ring getting the ends on.
Did you lube them up good when you pressed the ends on?
When i did my OC a couple years ago, I polished the inside
of the end caps with wet/dry sand paper, maybe 2000 grit?
it`s what I had on hand. I wanted it as smooth as possible.
Then uses Syl-Glide for the lube, and my 20 ton HF Press.
One end popped right on, but the other end was difficult,
then with a bang it popped on.
you really have to watch close to be sure it is going on straight
and not cocked to one side.

genscripter has some good videos working on these IDI`s,
and one on the OC. even shows how to pressure test one.

https://www.nickpisca.com/diesel/

Charlie

 

Did you pull your dip stick? If so did you have a nesquik surprise? Normally when i had a blown head gasket but no coolant in the oil i'd pop the rad cap off and rev the engine or just look for constant bubbles. I have a feeling one of the o-rings you put on got damaged and being that the OC was used i'd look it over super well.