302 overheated?????
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302 overheated?????
Hello everyone, and thanks for your time. Last night 2/24/06 I had a freeze out plug come out of my truck for no apparent reason. I'm pretty sure it came out while I was driving down the road. My temp. gauge doesn't work so I don't have any idea how hot the motor got but I can tell you that it was pretty hot. Tonight after I got off of work I put a new plug back in it. It seemed to be running okay but I think the valves were chattering a little bit. What are the chances that I have blown a head gasket or cracked a head? Thanks ahead of time for your input. Steve in Ky.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Hi Steve, and welcome to FTE! Please take a moment to check out the Guidelines, they contain important info you'll need when posting here.
The most likely thing to have happened is that you could have blown a head gasket, but cracking a head isn't outside the realm of possibilty. You'll just have to keep an eye on it and hope for the best. Keep an eye on the coolant level, or even have the cooling system pressure tested. Also, check the dipstick and underside of the oil filler cap frequently for evidence of water in the oil. (vanilla milkshake-looking goo)
If you see any sign of that, don't continue to drive it. The acids formed in the crankcase under these conditions can eat bearings in a hurry.
The most likely thing to have happened is that you could have blown a head gasket, but cracking a head isn't outside the realm of possibilty. You'll just have to keep an eye on it and hope for the best. Keep an eye on the coolant level, or even have the cooling system pressure tested. Also, check the dipstick and underside of the oil filler cap frequently for evidence of water in the oil. (vanilla milkshake-looking goo)
If you see any sign of that, don't continue to drive it. The acids formed in the crankcase under these conditions can eat bearings in a hurry.
Last edited by TigerDan; Feb 26, 2006 at 08:53 PM.
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Thanks TD, did I do something wrong on my post for you to tell me to chack the guidelines? I think that there is water and coolant in the oil pan. Today there was some leaking from underneath the truck and when I crawled under it it looked like it was coming from the oil pan seal. Also, I have had to add alot of water, thinking that I just didn't get it full the last time. So, best case scenario, its just a head gasket and worst case a cracked head. Right? Thanks again, Steve in Ky.
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From: Kiefer, Northeastern Okla
Hey, obsessed- naw, you didn't do anything wrong. It's his standard response to all new posters. Gazing into my crystal ball here, I see a motor rebuild in your very near future. 
Coolant in oil not good. Like Dan said, it sounds like a blown head gasket at the very least. Luckily, heads for the 302 are plentiful and relatively cheap if yours are warped and/or cracked.
Coolant in oil not good. Like Dan said, it sounds like a blown head gasket at the very least. Luckily, heads for the 302 are plentiful and relatively cheap if yours are warped and/or cracked.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Yeah, as Pete said we welcome all new posters and ask them to check the Guidelines as SOP, it can clear up a few things right off the bat...but no, you didn't do anything wrong! And it looks like Pete's crystal ball is in tune with my own...sorry. Looks like you're gonna have to go in. Start with the heads and let us know what you find.
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The anti-freeze is green but, I'm not real sure yet that it is coming from the oil pan of just running off from somewhere else. So, I will park it until I have the time and/or the money to check into it further. The motor seems to run fine though. Man that stinks it only has about 35,000 mile on it. Why would the freeze out plug come out for no reason? Oh yeh, If the thermostat failed would it cause the temp. gauge to stop working? And would it have anything to do with my current problem? Thanks, Steve in Ky.
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From: Sweden
Originally Posted by obsessedbowhuntr
Oh yeh, If the thermostat failed would it cause the temp. gauge to stop working? And would it have anything to do with my current problem? Thanks, Steve in Ky.
Temp sender- the one for the gauge with 1 stud for an output- is under $10. Make sure the connector goes on the stud snugly, if not, squeeze it closed a bit or replace with a common "bullet connector" crimp. Don't get the 2-wire sender that uses a formed connector, that one goes to the computer not the gauge head.
Maybe the freeze plug just failed on its own? It does happen sometimes.
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