my sister called me today saying her truck had overheated so i drove out to see what was going on. She said it was smoking and stalled as she pulled off the road. she said the thermostat gauge did not go above the low end of normal. I checked the oil, which probably has not being changed in 8 months, and it was at the bottom of the dipstick. I added 4l of cheap 10w30 which took the oil level to just above the full line. 5l is full for her engine. I started the engine and it seemed fine. After five minutes of idiling i drove to an intersection where it stalled. After starting the truck i noticed the temperature gauge start to climb above halfway so i pulled over and shut the engine down.

is there any hope that the engine is not terminaly ill. i was wondering if i changed the oil to synthetic i might be able to save it.

her truck is an 89 f150 4x4, automatic, 5l gas engine with 240,000 kilometers.

tommorow i am going to warm it up change the filter and oil (synthetic) and see what happens.

thanks for any help
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If it were run without any oil at all the engine would've seized or there would be nothing left of the bearings. Does the engine still have the same amount of power? Does it make any excess noise?
The dipsticks aren't super accurate and even if theres no oil showing up on the dipstick there is still enough oil to keep the engine alive. If it wasn't registering on the dipstick it was probably a couple quarts low. Make sure you didn't over-fill it. Fill it to the top line, but not over. Adding too much oil will negatively affect your oil pressure. Engine oil plays a small role in cooling the engine and while I try to keep mine right full, the cooling system is pretty much responsible for keeping your engine running cool.

It sounds more like a cooling system problem, the thermostat may be stuck closed causing the engine to overheat. First make sure you did not over-fill the crankcase with oil and then check the condition of the coolant. If the coolant is very very low, top up the coolant with a 50/50 mixture and see if that cures it. If the coolant level is okay change the thermostat, drain and flush out the old coolant and refill the system with pre-diluted coolant (50/50) that you buy in 1 gallon jugs. If you want to mix your own which is more expensive and also takes longer, MAKE SURE you use distilled water. Tap water or even filtered water will create deposits in your cooling system. If replacing the thermostat and flushing the coolant do-not help, the radiator may be plugged up. If the fins on the radiator are clogged carefully clean them out the best you can and see if that helps.
It's an old truck, it probably just needs to be serviced. Thermostat, flush, new coolant. If the waterpump is original, replace it, a remanufactured pump will cost you $15. The waterpump impeller could be so badly rusted that it won't properly circulate the coolant.

 

I agree with GlennF250, sounds like a cooling problem to me. I would do the usual check but it sounds like either a thermostat/waterpump/low coolant. I would change that oil too, been it there a while and allso wouldnt hurt to get it back to the right level. Good luck

 

I agree with all of the above, except for two things- I wouldn't bother with the synthetic oil "just in case", you dig? That stuff is expensive. just use the regular mineral oil until you find the culprit.

True story- When my Dad bought his first new truck in 1968 (F250, Camper Special, 390 CID) he loaded her all up with an 8 foot camper full of stuff, two kids, a dog, and a 16 foot boat out back. Off we went to the great northern woods of Minnesota to go fishing (this in a new truck with less than 500 miles on it). About two hours into the trip the engine light came on and before we could find a service station the engine seized- out of coolant. I don't remember how or why, but it was bone dry. Well, my Dad let her cool down slowly, fixed the coolant leak, filled her back up, and he drove that truck until it hit 230,000 miles with no major problems! I inherited it in 1980, did a cheap valve job on it and drove it until it hit 290,000 miles. Then, I gave it to a buddy of mine who took out the engine and used it for another 6 years in his tow truck!

Hopefully you will have the same good fortune. Good Luck!

 

water pump is leaking. i am replacing it now. what would cause the low idle and stalling?