94 F-150 302 Auto

White Coolant
As some of you know, the other day I had a coolant leak. I got it all fixed, but what I failed to mention is when I drained the radiator, the coolant was of a creme color. (I had flushed the radiator about a year ago with 50/50). When I got the leak fixed, I just filled the truck up with water as a temporary thing.
Today, I swapped the water for antifreze. When I drained the radiator again, the fluid coming out was a creme color.
Any ideas? I'm not sure that its oil causing it; it doesn't consume much oil (maybe 1 quart every oil change (4,000 miles and about 5 months) and I have a leaking rear-main-seal so I believe that is what is causing the loss of oil).. and when I drain the oil that isn't white at all. Plus, the stuff coming out of the radiator doesn't seem to be oily...

Starter Problems
This just started about 2 days ago. When ever I get in the truck after being parked and left alone for 5+ hours, I turn the key to start and the only thing that happens is a "click". However, once I turn the key to off and start again, the starter works just fine. However, if I turn the truck off, the starter will work fine the first time I start it; it only does it after it sits for 5 or so hours..

Just had the battery replaced 2 months ago, and it appears to be just fine. Any ideas there?

 

Oh, and in addition to both of them, the truck is running just fine. No overheating problems ever, all is good!

 

The starting problem is most likely a loose connection either at the battery, solenoid, or starter, or a bad solenoid. I'd bank on it being the solenoid, which is mounted on the top side of the passenger side inner fender.

The creamy coolant scares me a bit. I would have a cooling system pressure test ran, and also a cylinder compression test done. The coolant usually gets creamy when it hits oil. And chances are the water you drained out later flushed out some of the creamy antifreeze that was left over from before, or a continuation of the problem.

Those tests I mentioned earlier will most likely determine your problem. If it's a head gasket issue (which I'm fearing it is...) the cylinder compression test will help determimne where it's at. Good luck, and I hope that I'm wrong!!!

 

But if it was the head gasket, wouldn't I have water in the oil.. not just oil in the water?

 

Yes it would, but water in the oil is not as easy to identify than oil in the water, if that makes sense. It only takes a little bit of oil to make water or antifreeze noticably nasty. It takes quite a bit of water in the oil to actually notice it by looking at it. I've heard of people having oil analyses' done with diesels to determine how much fuel is getting past the piston rings into the crankcase, so I'm sure they can test it to see water is in the oil.

 

Well, in that case, do you think its not that bad? Maybe I should try some head gasket repair or something? I just need to keep the truck until I get a brand new one in June...

 

Please... for the love of God... do NOT ever buy anything like that. There's a whole shelf at Auto Zone that's full of "head gasket repair" and "engine restore" and a whole bunch of other BS that does not work. I want to kick the shelf down. I've seen people buy it and I tell them not to buy it, and if they do it anyway, I let them know how dumb they are. Sorry, but a blown head gasket isn't like being overweight... you can't "cure" it with something that comes from a bottle.