Okay, bad news first. Your engine is done.

Good news, it may be rebuildable, depending on the damage.

 

This all makes sense a lot of sense. I was at the grand canyon in December and it was about 2 degrees. After leaving the hotel in the morning I found out the engine block had "frozen". It took us bout an hour to get it started with the help of the hote's maintenance crew. They took me to a local general store to get some starter fluid. He sprayed it in as I was cranking and it started and ran great.

This is the last and only time I had used starter fluid on my truck, until today. I think the key was spray while cranking.

I feel like a jack a**.

 

You live and learn. Isn't gonna be cheap though. When you get it fixed, start pluggung it up.

 

We all make mistakes just keep you batteries and GP system in working order and you will not have a problem also use the block heater as well when you can. Maybe you can have the motor machined and rebuilt.

 

I wish there was something we could say to make you feel better.

Is this something you will try to fix yourself, or will it be going to a shop?

 

Don't beat yourself up over it. Stuff happens. If you've owned it since new, it's given you a good 7 years of service. Look at it this way. You can get yourself another 7.3, bulletproof it, and be good to go for another 7 years. And if you can stay away from the ether, probably longer.

 

i have seen the damage ether can cause, number one piston and sleeve in the pan on a john deere 8630 (wasn't mine was at diesel school being fixed) not pretty i don't like using it but will if need be in small amounts

 

Another sad case of someone that found FTE a day late... Its a shame!

Sorry to hear about your motor... i know how it is!

 

2002 diesel; have You found out how bad the damage is. Let Us know.

 

Well I checked it out yesterday after work. I disconnected the batteries for about 20 minutes to "reset" the computer. I also disconnected the bulley dog chip. I tried jumping it with my wifes minivan but I don't think it creates enough juice to get the truck really cranking hard.

I'm getting just a little bit of hope. It appeared to be cranking somewhat normal as if it all of a sudden had good compression again. I did not get a chance to check it out today. Hopufully I can get my brother with his Dodge diesel to jump start me tomorrow. Even if something is damaged inside I hope I can at least get it started to better be able to diagnose the problem.

I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks for all the feedback and info. This sucks but there are much worse things. In today's economy at least I have a job to support my family.

I'll try to post of picture of the truck later as an introduction to FTE

 

Hope you can see this picture...

 

She's a very nice truck I hope she is okay and isn't too bad to fix. You'll find out more if you can get her running.

 

A nice truck, if I say so myself. Too bad about the motor. At least it turns over, that's a good indicator that nothing's locked up.

 

Its a PMR motor, so we all know you did not bend a rod, they dont bend... My guess is a bent push rod or two... You need to stop cranking on it and pull the valve covers, do a compression test and go from there.

The more you try and start it (and if it is a bent push rod or valve) the more chance you will break a rod and do more damage.

 

I am with You on this one ; I would check a little deeper before You damage something a little worse. I read where You have oil dripping from under the block, check and make sure You did not crack the block.