Cracked head or is it?

[mathunt1]

So I just bought this 87 ranger 4x4 with 2.9l and fm 145 and decided to do some general maintance so I changed the oil and flushed the coolant system and after that Im getting a puff of white smoke at start up sometimes and seems to be alot of steam/water coming out of the tailpipe(everytime you rev the motor a small amount of water will shoot out). I know probably cracked head right! But Im not so sure now and there are a few reasons why.
1. Steam dosent smell like coolant.
2. Water dosent taste sweet.
3. Coolant level has not droped.
4. Not runing rough or skipping.
5. Not overheating( if anything its running alot cooler since the Flush).
6. No spark plugs looked clean.
7. I have 149 to 150 Psi on every cyilnder.

My question is could this steam and water be condensation because of humidity?

 

[Cyberbeer]

Water and water vapor is a natural by product of combustion. Does it smoke white constantly or just til it warms up? You could also be running lean causing the grey or white smoke.

 

[mathunt1]

Well the white smoke is only at start up sometimes. when its at idle you can just see a little steam or smoke even when it is warm (driving around it the yard for a few min) sometimes it does it worse than others. And im not sure i will do some more testing tonight but the smoke at start up seems to be only when i drive it a little bit and let it sit for 20- 30 min then start it again, and not when the engine has sat over night.

 

[wrecking-crew]

crappy gas does that

 

[mathunt1]

What is the normal compression for the 2.9?

 

[RustedRanger]

Water out of the tailpipe is normal when you first start and engine. When you shut a warm engine off and as the exhaust cools down it draws in air from outside that has moisture in it. Kinda the same thing as having a ice cold drink on a hot humid day and you get condensation running off the outside of the container. I don't think a puff of steam is normal so it might be leaking a little something somewhere. Ive had cars give a puff off light colored smoke from a little oil being sucked into the chambers from leaking valve seals.

 

[zukirider21]

2. Water dosent taste sweet.

you DRANK the mysterious fluid that you thought was water? LMFAO

 

[IMenriched]

What is the normal compression for the 2.9?

If you're runnning 149 -150psi on compression...you're good...very good.

for grins, after my complete OH engine, I was getting 155psi but I only checked a couple of holes...just to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[AllanD]

you DRANK the mysterious fluid that you thought was water? LMFAO

No he said he TASTED it.

which is an entirely valid method of identification

But the scientific method aside....

People boggle at water in their exhaust without thinking that
the gasoline you use as fuel is a hydrocarbon, Hydrogen & Carbon

They can relate that when you burn carbon you get Carbon Dioxide
and Carbon Monoxide, but forget that burning the hydrogen produces
WATER.

It should be noted again that the typical 2.9 head crack doesn't put coolant into the exhaust, it puts coolant into the oil pan.

AD

 

[mathunt1]

Thanks for the help guys. seems to be running fine so im just going to drive it and let it tell on it self if there is a problem.