85 2.3 water in the oil

[coleboy11]

Well I know it needs antifreeze in it...I have been gone most of the winter so my brother had it and failed to follow the simple instructions I gave him about putting antifreeze in it. If it's a cracked head, somebody's gettin' a smack-down.

 

[cody93]

hope its only a cracked head and not a cracked block, could have a crack in the cylinder wall.. before you kill him, make sure there no exhaust gases entering the cooling system first.

 

[coleboy11]

Well I put a plastic baggie over the rad cap and sealed it super tight as instructed and waited 5-10 minutes from a cold start. The bag looked exactly the same as it did when I started. I don't think I have a head-gasket leak. I am getting water from somewhere though, possibly condensation??

 

[RonD]

Good news on the head gasket

Yes, condensation but since you drive it more than 20 minutes at a time it's not likely.
You do see condensation on the oil filler cap usually, not so much on the dip stick unless it's at the very top of the stick near the handle.

You said you have a t-stat housing leak, could that be running down and into oil pan or ??

 

[coleboy11]

Yes good news indeed! I thought it was the thermostat housing leaking but it was actually the upper radiator hose slowly dripping out. It just needed tightening (I'm always in there messin' with stuff...) I don't see how it would get in the oil though. I am starting to believe my invalid brother drove it through some deep water because what used to be clean water in the radiator last summer has turned to mud and dirt and debris all over the place. I originally suspected that if it were a head gasket issue, the symptoms would be more severe. Was I right or just lucky?

 

[coleboy11]

And no, the watery-looking stuff appears at the end of the stick, farthest from the handle. It's not much, just the very tip of it. The tube that goes from the oil cap to the upper intake has watery looking oil as well as a little on the oil cap which makes me think the water is either condensation or it sucked water into the intake when it went through water.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

hope its only a cracked head and not a cracked block, could have a crack in the cylinder wall.. before you kill him, make sure there no exhaust gases entering the cooling system first.

Most likely would have blown the freeze plugs out then, but it sure sounds like the crankcase isn't evacuating worth a darn still like plugged PCV, Breather or line.

 

[RonD]

Yup, I would clean the oil cap and breather hose, clean the PCV hose and replace PCV valve, change the oil all at the same time and see if "water" returns.

 

[coleboy11]

Sounds like an affirmitive plan of action to me. I plan on taking this truck from Alabama to Montana possibly by the summer so I'm gonna really get in tip-top shape(mechanically at least). Can you believe both radiator hoses are still the same ones from the factory??? A testament to motorcraft's integrity and moreover; a testament to my years of procrastination....

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Sounds like an affirmitive plan of action to me. I plan on taking this truck from Alabama to Montana possibly by the summer so I'm gonna really get in tip-top shape(mechanically at least). Can you believe both radiator hoses are still the same ones from the factory??? A testament to motorcraft's integrity and moreover; a testament to my years of procrastination....

Clean that dipstick tube also. I have seen that muck in the tube where when you put the dipstick in the tip scrapes it off the tube and it stays on the tip even after running it making you think it's coming out of the oilpan/crankcase.

 

[coleboy11]

Jesus! Things can go from bad to worse in an instant I tell ya. So I started my truck this morning and let it warm up for about ten minutes. I noticed the heater wasnt working this morning and I grumbled because it was freezing cold today and I headed to work. About 12 minutes into the drive with the heater not working, it started over-heating and smoke poured out. I pulled over and hitched a ride back home. I never got a chance to put antifreeze in it (waiting on a paycheck), so its just water. I'm thinking the water never got a chance to circulate because it was frozen and blew a freezeplug but I will look at it later. AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!

 

[coleboy11]

To beat it all just yesterday I replace the intake gasket, cleaned the pvc and hoses and just generally got it up to speed, even fixed the short in the brake lights. The last thing was add antifreeze when I got my check. Too little too late it appears....

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Jesus! Things can go from bad to worse in an instant I tell ya. So I started my truck this morning and let it warm up for about ten minutes. I noticed the heater wasnt working this morning and I grumbled because it was freezing cold today and I headed to work. About 12 minutes into the drive with the heater not working, it started over-heating and smoke poured out. I pulled over and hitched a ride back home. I never got a chance to put antifreeze in it (waiting on a paycheck), so its just water. I'm thinking the water never got a chance to circulate because it was frozen and blew a freezeplug but I will look at it later. AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!

You ask and were given good pointers by TRS folks, you failed to follow through with the most basic's... good luck thinking our time is yours.

 

[coleboy11]

Yes please forgive me Almighty Online Grandmaster Lima Wizard for taking your time which would be better spent taking basic grammar lessons. There is no apostrophe needed in a word like basic's because its used to denote possession. And I guess you failed to read the part where I said I was broke as hell which means I can't rightly make antifreeze manifest by sheer will. Thanks for the wise-ass comment, sure needed that as an extra kick-start to my already wonderful day. What a pal.

 

[RonD]

I doubt you would have a freeze issue that would cause any major damage.
My money is on a leaking hose, lower water level prevented heater from working, and overheating, steam came from the leak point.

Overheating shows on the gauge but you don't get steam showing unless there is a hole in the cooling system to let the steam out.