Notices

Cracked block?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 11, 2005 | 12:43 PM
  #1  
Gottaford's Avatar
Gottaford
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Chaparral, NM
Cracked block?

I've had my 94, F150, Inline 6, 300, 9.4 Ford truck for seven months now and I'm still trying to get it right. It's not the truck though, it's the mechanic. I would take it elsewhere but, there is a reason why I'm stickin with this guy. Very long story short... he told me I could trust the person I bought it from when he said it was a rebuilt engine, and according to the paper work (found after the sale) it was, but come to find out that the people doing that job didn't do it right and I ended up having to pay for a valve job anyway. So, the mechanic does the valve job but he doesn't put the serpentine belt on right and it blew. I only drove it about two miles before I realized there was a problem and parked it. It was hot. I called the mechanic to fix his mistake and when he retrieved it I find out that he drove it all the way to his shop (about 6 1/2 miles) without the belt and now I worry about what damage this could have caused. When he brought it back to me (a 12 mile trip) he had the heater on and I didn't know why because it was warm outside. Should I be concerned that my block was cracked or something? I mentioned the heat just in case it adds info that is needed to come to any conclusions.
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2005 | 01:15 PM
  #2  
Motorhead351's Avatar
Motorhead351
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 5
Any ill effect is possible but don't worry about it just yet.

Just keep an eye on your oil color (look for changes in the usual color at changing time) and coolant level (when the engine is cold) for a while.

Good luck
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2005 | 09:53 PM
  #3  
built 80 f250's Avatar
built 80 f250
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
he may have had the heater on because he was cold but you also turn the heater on when the engine is over heating because the heater acts like a nother radiator because it uses engine coolant but dont worry about it just keep drivin it
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 12:19 AM
  #4  
Gottaford's Avatar
Gottaford
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Chaparral, NM
I doubt if he had the heater on because he was cold. It was t-shirt weather outside. I just had an odd feeling about it being on. He did just put in a new type of anti-freeze (red). Do you think he could have just been making sure it was put through the system or something?
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 12:24 AM
  #5  
ford390gashog's Avatar
ford390gashog
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Club FTE Gold Member
red? as in dexcool? wow i would run from him. he should know never to mix green with red coolant. red eats gaskets.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 12:27 AM
  #6  
Gottaford's Avatar
Gottaford
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Chaparral, NM
I don't think he mixed them. I think he flushed out the old stuff first, I HOPE. So, should I get this changed back to green?
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 12:29 AM
  #7  
ford390gashog's Avatar
ford390gashog
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Club FTE Gold Member
if he did in fact flush it(which i really doubt) then it will be fine. but the slighest drop of green mixed with dexcool is bad . they don't mix.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 12:38 AM
  #8  
Gottaford's Avatar
Gottaford
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Chaparral, NM
I'm inclined to agree with you that I doubt that he drained it, even though he was supposed to because it was dirty. There are a lot of things this guy (or perhaps his hired help) didn't do correctly on this truck. So, should I insist on his using the green stuff? He just used the red because they were moving their shop and it was handy. Grrrrr.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-3

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-6

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 12:39 AM
  #9  
ford390gashog's Avatar
ford390gashog
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Club FTE Gold Member
yes , the red is a GM coolant which GM is being sued over. it eats gaskets and ruins enignes. bad stuff ,you want GREEN
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 10:36 AM
  #10  
bigbrown84truck's Avatar
bigbrown84truck
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
what about the orange that every car manufacture is now using? to the best of my knoledge there is nothing wrong with using it as long as the green was drained and flush.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 01:15 PM
  #11  
andym's Avatar
andym
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
I REALLY think your mechanic is an idiot who you need to stay away from. Driving the truck without the belt means the water pump isn't spinning. 6 1/2 miles is WAY too long to drive without a water pump. He probably overheated it, and may have blown a head gasket or cracked the block or head.

THEN he goes and puts the wrong anti-freeze in it "because it was handy".

Tell me, please, WHY do you want to stick with this guy?
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 05:08 PM
  #12  
Chevy_Eater's Avatar
Chevy_Eater
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,221
Likes: 17
That mechanic's first name isn't Ernest, is it?
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 06:31 PM
  #13  
beatupford's Avatar
beatupford
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Timmins,Ontario,Canada
I dont go to mechanics anymore, and for that exact reason. As stuborn as i am i will insist maintaining my own vehicle, because its only under my warranty. Im fairly new to alot of it but hey its good. Gottaford, don't let it bother you too much. Learn, and read this great forum and never take a mechanics word for it unless you know what hes talking about. Red Collant, never heard of that before, what an odd colour. Im thinking that a gasket would probably be the first to give under pressure but who knows how really hot it got. Now, check your oil level and colour, if it starts looking milky white somethings up. Check your sparkplugs if burning coolant i believe they will look whiter and cleaner than normal.
 

Last edited by beatupford; Dec 12, 2005 at 06:42 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2005 | 07:43 PM
  #14  
rhetor's Avatar
rhetor
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 1
From: redding U.S.A.
He put the heater on because he knew the belt wasn't connected. It really wouldn't do all that much because the waterpump isn't circulating coolant.

I'm sure as long as he watched the temp guage and wasn't an idiot about it, the thing is fine.

I don't see why he put the Dexcool in it though.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2005 | 02:59 AM
  #15  
Gottaford's Avatar
Gottaford
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Chaparral, NM
I went back to him because it was like a chain reaction thing. Like, with this episode, it was his fault that the belt came off and I couldn't afford to pay someone else to haul it, and fix it when he was supposed to do it for free. I thought he was going to use a tow truck though and was in shock when he told me he drove it. He showed me that the oil which was fine, and it's not smoking, so perhaps it's ok.

Another reason he said he put the Dexcool in was because he uses it in all his vehicles and has had good results with it. Whether I can believe him is another story. He said that he flushed it before hand or it would gell, so I'll watch for that too. I have a feeling that this is not over with yet. I'll drive it awhile and see what happens. It's been a trip to say the least. Maybe I'll write the whole story someday... when I'm finished being embarrassed about it.

Michelle's Gottaford.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bar B Q
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
7
Feb 27, 2015 06:36 PM
Bar B Q
Excursion - King of SUVs
6
Feb 22, 2015 06:34 PM
Diesel_Brad
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Oct 24, 2012 04:17 PM
deecee322
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
2
Jun 3, 2010 10:22 AM
Kallie
Clutch, Transmission, Differential, Axle & Transfer Case
15
Oct 21, 2006 06:23 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 PM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE