Flathead smoking
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 120
From: Behind the wheel, IN
Flathead smoking
I've had a little smoke out of one my exhaust pipes for a while now. It's been losing water, and I'm pretty sure that's where it's going. Got back from a drive earlier and I think it's starting to get worse. Is it possibly the head gasket, or am I likely looking at a crack somewhere? Should I pull the head and see what I can find?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,188
Likes: 4,792
From: Burbank, WA
Head gasket would be the first suspect, unless there's some reason to believe you had an incident that would cause a crack, freezing or overheating, etc. You can always try one of the stop leak remedies if you want to give that a shot first.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 261
From: East KY
It's good to hear from you. We met during the Truckstock at Butler State Park. Ross taught me a trick that helped a lot. Take a couple of long 7/16 inch bolts, grind off the heads, and cut yourself a slot for a big flat head screwdriver in place of the head. They make great placeholders for the head when you slide it on and off the engine block when you get started on that project.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,297
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Before you pull a head, get a cooling system pressure tester (loaner tool set from AutoZone or O'Reilly's) and pump the system up to 4 psi (NOT any higher). If it won't hold pressure, you've got a leak somewhere.
Is there any sign of water/coolant in the oil? When running, are there any bubbles in the radiator?
Is there any sign of water/coolant in the oil? When running, are there any bubbles in the radiator?
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 120
From: Behind the wheel, IN
There's no coolant in the oil. I'll check the radiator for bubbles.
"...pump the system up to 4 psi (NOT any higher)..."
Story time. A few years back I was having my radiator re-cored and the shop was taking forever. I got impatient and bought a relatively cheap aluminum radiator which I used for a few months. I didn't know any better, so I didn't check what the pressure was on the cap. It wasn't until after I put my old radiator back in that I learned about the cap pressure ratings. If I recall correctly, I checked and the aluminum rad cap was rated at 12lbs. I remember thinking, "Oh, that's why the heater core suddenly sprung a leak."
"...pump the system up to 4 psi (NOT any higher)..."
Story time. A few years back I was having my radiator re-cored and the shop was taking forever. I got impatient and bought a relatively cheap aluminum radiator which I used for a few months. I didn't know any better, so I didn't check what the pressure was on the cap. It wasn't until after I put my old radiator back in that I learned about the cap pressure ratings. If I recall correctly, I checked and the aluminum rad cap was rated at 12lbs. I remember thinking, "Oh, that's why the heater core suddenly sprung a leak."
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Big_Ugly1984
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jun 24, 2017 02:30 PM
That One Fat Guy
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
May 3, 2012 09:20 AM
JoeDaddy15
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
6
Oct 27, 2004 03:29 PM
