90 Ranger suspected head gasket issue.

[ScottB]

I have a 90 Ranger with a new engine and transmission with about 40,000 on it. I am deployed currently and I let a friend borrow my truck while he was in town to get around. it didnt occur to me not everyone drives like me as in i dont have my foot down on the accelerator and i think he drove the crap out of that truck and abused it. He called my dad telling him it smoked and ran like crap. anyway I came home for Christmas and I took a look at it sure enough it ran like crap and it had white smoke and bubbles going in to the reservoir after engine operation. I didnt pull the spark plugs to inspect them but he said there was oil on one of them. what do you guys think? I was going to get a test kit for the gasket but I am thinking the head might be cracked or the gasket might be blown, it appears to be consuming coolant there was no goo on the oil filler cap.

 

[Tedybear]

First off?

Thank You for your service.

Even money bet the head gasket is blown, or the head is cracked. In either event? The heads will have to come off and be inspected. (Sucks, I know...) A quality machine shop can tell you pretty quick if the heads are cracked...or just new head gaskets are needed.

S-