Cracks between the valves? HELP!!! (LOTS OF PICTURES)

[maverick1970]

Truck details first...
1998 2.5L automatic transmission with 181,000 miles. I bought it brand new in 1998. Only thing replace has been the alternator. If you need more details, please ask!

I started doing all this because my truck was running horrible, I had a loss of power, the temperature was fluctuating, large amounts of white smoke, moisture coming out of my tail pipe, and consistent check engine lights for cylinder 3 miss fire. Okay, blown head gasket I thought. So I decided to get down and dirty and replace the head gasket myself. Well the tear down went well. I worked on it a few hours here and there and it took me six days (not in a row but on and off. Wife, kids, and work). Now bare with me because I've never done any of this hard core mechanic work before But hey, I'm following the manual and things are going smooth.

Well, I've pulled my head but didn't find what I expected. I was expecting to find the head gasket blown or cracked between the coolant chambers allowing coolant into cylinder 3, but instead, I found these hair line cracks between all the valves. Am I screwed? Does that mean my head is cracked? Is that where the water is getting into the cylinders? Again, bare with me because this is the first time I've done this sort of work. Looking for a good idea what I'm dealing with here. I've also got some pictures of the top of the pistons. The truck has been sitting for probably 16 days in the garage with the coolant drained. The oil spots in the pictures may have been from when I took the head off with oil on my gloves/hands.

Head #1

Head #2

Head #3

Head #4

Piston #1

Piston #2

Piston #3 (I think oil dripped down while I was taking the head off. But you can see the signs of coolant or water in the piston because of the rust.)

Piston #4 (I think the oil in the picture dripped over when I took the head off. I don't think it's from the oil seeping threw the gasket.)

Head Gasket On

Head Gasket Off

 

[martin]

I don't like the looks of it, imagine the cracks you can't see. New head can't be too expensive or hard to find.

 

[scotts90ranger]

pistons and cylinders look fine, head is SHOT those cracks will eventually end up in coolant passages, if you have it off, replace it...

aluminum doesn't rust, #3 is probably just a little bit cleaner running than the rest

 

[red93terror]

probly from a bad head gasket

 

[scotts90ranger]

a bad head gasket doesn't cause the head to crack or the engine to overheat, it happens because of the engine overheating. the cause of overheating can vary from low coolant level to too much timing advance (not the case on these engines, it's not very adjustable...) to a bad thermostat, to a shot radiator, to a bad water pump to a number of other things...

 

[Kenneth S]

a bad head gasket doesn't cause the head to crack or the engine to overheat, it happens because of the engine overheating. the cause of overheating can vary from low coolant level to too much timing advance (not the case on these engines, it's not very adjustable...) to a bad thermostat, to a shot radiator, to a bad water pump to a number of other things...

X2

The head is junk, if it were me since it's apart I'd replace the water pump, thermostat, coolant temperature sensors, and the timing belt, also have the radiator checked for clogs leaks, or just replace it.

 

[Hopman]

Seeing as you have the head off and the engine torn apart, it might be a good time to boost the power with a turbo.

 

[briansz]

That's nothing man. I pulled a d-port head in the boneyard and found a crack between valve seats I could stick a dime into! Head is toast either way.

 

[dirtracer81_2]

Man bad news your head is junk!!
Its cracked just like most of the old d4s off of the 2.3 pintos you find laying around.....Your best bet honestly would be to by a reman off ebay or find one somebody will sell. Heat will cause one to crack but thats just a mystery why they crack there.
My dad has a 2.5 he pulled out a wrecked ranger about 2 months ago in the garage. It ran fine and only had like 90k miles. If your interested in that I can see what he would take for the head.

 

[maverick1970]

Thank you everyone for the information. I'm going to check around a few junk yard where I live and see what they may have. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on what to look or ask when going to the junk yards? Or what about pricing?

 

[RangerFabWorks]

id get a reman head from rockauto.com or ebay. junk yard is a hit or miss. make sure to have it magnafluxed if you go the jy route.

 

[rangerpimpn84]

haha its a 2.5 thing junk motors. 2.3 is the way to go buddy