hey guys I'm new to this site and also my first post. my mom picked me up yesterday from the airport in her 2000 5.4. In the way back the truck overheated. we pulled over in a gas station and no coolant at all. I added coolant and drove it back home. well, today we turned it on realizing a huge cloud of white smoke from tail pipe. i checked my coolant level it was a bright orange color and bubbling. I'm wondering if I blew a head or intake gasket?
thanks
Carlos

 

The problem is most likely a blown head gasket - or worse. If you put cold water in an engine that is overheating the difference in temperature can cause the block or cylinder head to crack. If you kept the engine running while putting the water/coolant in the system the block and/or head(s) may be alright and the problem then would likely be just a gasket. The bubbling is a strong sign that it is one or the other.

 

could there be any chance at all that its just an intake gasket. how would i know?

 

The most accurate way would be to have a good shop do a pressure test on the system and look for water/coolant leaks around the water passages of the intake, and inside the cylinder through the spark plug hole. They will need to use a bore scope, most likely. They could also just let the pressure push coolant wherever it wants to go until it copmes out a spark plug hole or raises the oil level enough to identify that's what's ha[ppening. If it's leaking into the combustion chamber or oil pan it won't hurt anything more unless it's driven that way, cause the motor will have to come apart or be replaced.

 

any idea how much does it cost for the pressure test? I can get a used engine for $300 + $400 for labor. should I just replace the engine?

 

Definitely a head gasket. The only way you're going to get white smoke (steam) out of the tailpipe is if coolant is being drawn into one or more cylinders. If the intake gasket is leaking, you will get coolant into the crankcase. The oil takes on a beige color and the level goes up beyond MAX.

 

I came across the ad for this stuff, I haven't heard of anyone who's tried it yet, so I'm not sure how well it works, but they make it sound good. At this point it's either this, or a $1000 + repair cost for your vehicle, so I don't think you got anything to loose. Repairs Blown Head Gaskets With No Disassembly | Lifetime Guarantee | Steel Seal If you do try it, be sure to let us know the outcome.

 

Hey guys something I forgot to ask: where is the orange coolant coming from? I have drained and filled the radiator about 5 times and still turns orange. I also checked my oil dipstick and came out clean.

 

orange color indicates rust since you have been only draining the radiator it is most likely the coolant left in engine heater and hoses. you need to flush the system to get it cleaned up. Plus some antifrezze are orange in color. But unfortunatly with bubbles in system sounds like color is a minor problem

 

If you have a head gasket leak that's causing the cylinder gases to get into your cooling system, this is probably whats causing the color change. Are you going to give that Steel Seal stuff a shot ?