Hey all,

I am a noobie to this forum, but have not been able to find out if anyone has had a problem like I am having now.

I currently own a 1998 F-150 XLT extended cab, standard, 4.5 liter V-6. My engine in the past couple of weeks has been running very rough and spewing tons of white smoke for about 10 minutes. Then after it is warmed up (which I am in South Texas, so it's not that cold) it all stops and the truck seems to run fine.

Well, about a week ago, I went to start my truck and nothing! It sounded like the flywheel was stuck! Well, a buddy of mine suggested it may be the starter.... well, I went to an autoparts store.... replaced it and bam!! It started up, but ran very very rough for about 10 minutes.......then went away....

Well.... today I go to start up my truck and it does the same thing.... wont turn over at all and sounds like the flywheel is stuck... I could hear the starter engaging, but it would lock up when touching the flywheel.... so, I rolled it down a hill and tried to start it by releasing the clutch.... BAD IDEA... it actually locked up my real wheels completely and left some nice skid marks... the engine didnt budge a bit!!
So, I was about to give up when my cousin told me to tap on the starter with a tire jack.... sure enough.... the truck started.... BUT>>> made a hideous, very loud knocking noise the entire time.... it made my truck sound all the sudden like it was an old fashion mercedez deisel engine... that things knocked soo bad and then I shut it off...

ARE there any suggestions or advice someone can give me? I am a husband and father of 2 and we are tight on cash... I am not that handy at knowing my way around a serious engine break down.... can someone give me some advice or opinions on what it may be... and how should I handle this issue?

Thank you.
SDB

 

Pull the #1 spark plug, you might have a head gasket that let go, filling the cylinders with coolant and the engine is locked.

 

white smoke probably means coolant is getting into the cylinders. If its the 4.2L v6, it probably is a head gasket.

 

what should i be looking for on the spark plug and what about the knocking noise?? is my engine toast?

 

Guys..... what would be the signs of possible coolant leak? The reason I ask is .... my cousin told me that when I pull my oil dip stick...... it will look like chocolate milk and not oil....... well....when i pulled it..... it looked fine to me.... can you guys give me ideas of what to look for on a faulty head gasket with possible coolant leak?

 

First off, have you been losing coolant? Secondly, I'd pull all plugs and turn it over... rust on plugs or very clean plugs suggest a coolant leak. The knocking the latest time around suggest you've damaged the engine, piston, rod or bearing damage. Good luck.

 

thanks for your help everyone.... yes, i am loosing coolant.... you sggest taking off all plugs and then try to turn it over? what will i be looking for,,,, coolant coming out of my block?

thanks 4 all help...

 

When you pull a few plugs one or more of them will look different than the others. IE waet, rusted or cleaner. If you hydrolocked the engine, (tried to compress a liquid in a piston chamber) then the engine could be hosed. It can bend a rod or break other internal parts. I know that isnt what you want to hear being in a tight spot and all.

 

well.... i will ck on my plugs...... The only thing that really gets me is why then when I bought a NEW starter.... it allowed my truck to work for a while? huh? Thanks anyway for the help..

 

Well the new starter could of had enough power to turn over the motor, compared to an older more used starter, which might of had just a little less torque than required to start the almost locked-up motor.

 

Suggestion:

Click SEARCH and enter the word "hydrolock" as your SEARCH keyword.

Sadly, you're going to cry....

Steve

 

ok,

I have done all the search for hydrolock and read all the horror stories........ugh! and so...am I correct in my feelings that I will probably be looking at a FULL engine replacement?

if so... with labor and parts, do any of yall have a suggestion on the ball park figure after all is said and done?

and other quick question......... would it be worth it to place a larger engine in it's place....?? would it raise it's resale value that much or should I not even try it?

 

Yes my boss has a 97 4.2 v6. The oil pump is driven by the camshaft on the front housing. It had locked up and tore the 2 gears up driving it. We replaced the pump and gears and haven't had any trouble since.

 

If it''s the 1998 4.2 L V6 you probably had the infamous lower intake manifold gasket go bad. When it goes, it leaks coolant into one of the cylinders and hydrolocks the engine. You probably bent a rod when trying to start it in that condition.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you are probably going to need a new engine.

 

SGT:
Before you start cursing and taking a baseball bat to the engine compartment, (even though you may already have), it's worth pullin the spark plugs and checking them out. Have a friend, kid, or wife crank the starter while you see whats goin on. Sadly enough, new V8 engines in these pickup trucks don't do much for resale value. I'd say if you're tight on cash, go for a slightly used v6 out of a junked f-150. Unless you feel you need a V8, it's not really worth the investment. Just my .02