Help, 302 overheating...
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New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3
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Help, 302 overheating...
hi im a new owner of an 87 ranger which has been converted to a 89' mustang 302. the truck drives and runs well but overheats exesively, after chekign the coolant and refilling i noticed that it again seemed to dissapear, after further insepction i noticed a few other odd things about the motor....
1. when running steam comes out of both valve cover vents even when the truck is cold
2. a white buildup is forming on the inside of the valve covers, its not ard an limey like of burnign coolant but has the appearance and consistency of white lithimum grease
3. the truck runs cold for the first 15 min of operation but after temperature climbs extremely rapidly
4. when running hot the engine looses alot of power and begins to idle very roughly
5. if ran long enough steam beging to come out of the exhaust
i think that a headgasket has blown out and coolant is flowing into the oil channels and even seeping into the cylinders but that doesnt explain why steam is flowing equally out of both valve covers, if anyone has any ideas what other things can cause such behavior and what the hell causes the white buildup?
1. when running steam comes out of both valve cover vents even when the truck is cold
2. a white buildup is forming on the inside of the valve covers, its not ard an limey like of burnign coolant but has the appearance and consistency of white lithimum grease
3. the truck runs cold for the first 15 min of operation but after temperature climbs extremely rapidly
4. when running hot the engine looses alot of power and begins to idle very roughly
5. if ran long enough steam beging to come out of the exhaust
i think that a headgasket has blown out and coolant is flowing into the oil channels and even seeping into the cylinders but that doesnt explain why steam is flowing equally out of both valve covers, if anyone has any ideas what other things can cause such behavior and what the hell causes the white buildup?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 877
Likes: 1
From: Colorado, U.S.A!
The white stuff is water in the oil. It's probably either a head gasket or intake manifold gasket. Or maybe something with the timing cover. I've had that happen, but not on a Ford. I wouldn't run it any more until that's fixed.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 255
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From: Spokane
If you do a rebuild, get the heads and block magna-fluxed. This will check for cracks. Many times the head gaskets are replaced but a head or the block is cracked. Also get the heads milled to make them flat. Mag-fluxing during a rebuild might cost $100 so it could be very worth while.
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Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: May 2004
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thanx, im probablyging to end up replacing the heads anyway, the ones currently on there are off a 66' fairline 289 could that be causing the problem?
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