New 460
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 9
From: East TN
New 460
So I just changed head gaskets in my 95 f250, 460 5 speed. All went well until white smoke started coming out of the exhaust. I did not take the heads to have them checked before reinstalling. Runs really good, idles at 650-700 rpm, but the white smoke doesn't stop.
My question, where to source a replacement? There are rebuilders that will send you an engine and you send back the core. Really don't know whether it is a gasket or cracked head/engine. Seeking the advice of this forum. Just want a stock truck, nothing crazy. I looked online for used and nothing advertised. Do I pull it and send for a rebuild or get a rebuilt long block?
Thanks,
Larry
My question, where to source a replacement? There are rebuilders that will send you an engine and you send back the core. Really don't know whether it is a gasket or cracked head/engine. Seeking the advice of this forum. Just want a stock truck, nothing crazy. I looked online for used and nothing advertised. Do I pull it and send for a rebuild or get a rebuilt long block?
Thanks,
Larry
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 149
From: South Dakota
Are you actually losing coolant or does the exhaust smell sweet? If the weather is just right with moisture in the air white smoke is normal. Just a thought. Yes I see you are in Tennessee.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 9
From: East TN
Both actually, exhaust is sweet, and I am losing coolant. Getting puffs of steam out the breather on the driver side valve cover also. I am going to have to pull it.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 587
Likes: 73
My first question is why did you change the head gaskets? If the lower end is in good shape, I would pull the heads and get a good machine shop to look at them. Would be cheaper than a new engine. If heads are good I would take a solid metal level, put it across the block, and use a feeler gauge to see if the block is warped. But, I would bet its your heads.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 9
From: East TN
My first question is why did you change the head gaskets? If the lower end is in good shape, I would pull the heads and get a good machine shop to look at them. Would be cheaper than a new engine. If heads are good I would take a solid metal level, put it across the block, and use a feeler gauge to see if the block is warped. But, I would bet its your heads.
I am just a little despondent that I did not do my due diligence on this repair. Frustration is making me take a short break to think on my next course of action. Thanks for the support.
Larry
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 908
Likes: 119
When I pulled the heads, the evidence showed a blown head gasket. I will tear it down again and check the block deck and check the heads for flatness. I should have done that, but I found the thermostat upside down and figured the PO had caused the blown head gasket. I have not had the truck in the road as I detected white smoke when I traded for the truck. I still think I am ahead as I traded an '02 Honda Civic with 170k on it. I bought the civic for 2k 6 years ago for my daughter, who bought another car.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 9
From: East TN
Please enlighten me as to the difference. Maybe I am thick! Really would like to know what you are getting at.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 908
Likes: 119
Heads aren't a uniform log of metal so they want to turn into weird shapes as they heat/cool. Over a narrow 300deg rainge (say -50 to 250) this is fine, the bolts will hold them straight (enough) and they'll get back to normal after each cycle.
If the gasket blows (usually from age/wear, the head to block interface moves around a tiny bit during normal operation which wears out fiber gaskets over hundreds of thousands of miles) and then it overheats your heads are probably fine (unless you really run it with the gauge pegged).
If you overheat an engine with a serviceable head gasket so much that the gasket blows the heads are probably warped because how else would the head gasket have popped. You had to have gotten it so hot that the heads were warped enough to be trying to lift themselves off the block hard enough to make the gasket fail in which case they're probably permanently warped a few thousandths.
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