Help!?!?!?! Head gaskets!!!!

[fordman4x492]

how can you tell if you have a bad head gasket?????


thanks in advance

 

[84stealthranger]

If ur oil is milky color I think

 

[Big Jim M]

The most common effect is compression in the coolant system,,, You will have huge boiling over of the coolant out the overflow.

Tell us what is going on and maybe we can help. WHY do you ask about headgaskets
Big JIm

 

[jhammel85]

Is the oil milky? Boiling over? White smoke?

Lots o things....I notice you have a 2.9, I hope that you're heads are not cracked!

 

[fordman4x492]

the heads are new. the coolent is overflowing bigtime but no milky oil or white smoke.

 

[Big Jim M]

Ok

the heads are new. the coolent is overflowing bigtime but no milky oil or white smoke.

Ok how new?
Why are they new?
who installed them?
Who filled the coolant system?
A leak that has been there a while might cause new heads to be purchased.
First guess would be a blown head gasket...
But if there is a small leak outside the engine that will lower the coolant level and make it over heat also.
Have you filled the radiator PROPERLY?
Big JIm

 

[fordman4x492]

the heads have about 3000 miles on them.

i put the improved heads so i wont have to worrie about them cracking.

i installed them.

i filled the cooling system.

and i never said anything about overheating.

and yes it was filled properly.

 

[Psychopete]

Get a kit to test for exhaust gasses in your coolant,

have the system pressure tested or pressure test it if you have a pressure tester. If it is a blown head gasket affecting a water jacket, the system will not hold pressure. Common for overheating since combustion will super heat the coolant. Compression test can give signs of low compression, but this can only provide a hint..

Might just be a bad radiator cap?

Has it always been like this, or is this something that's just started happening?

 

[Big Jim M]

Thanks

the heads have about 3000 miles on them.

i put the improved heads so i wont have to worrie about them cracking.

i installed them.

i filled the cooling system.

and i never said anything about overheating.

and yes it was filled properly.

for the answers..
Ok then why do you ask the question? What is going on with that ranger that worries you?
So far you have only said you have 3,000 miles on new heads. And asked how to tell if they are cracked.. Is something wrong that you havn't said?
Cracked heads are rare indeed if the owner keeps the coolant system full at all times. All the cracked heads and burnt head gaskets you read about are from slow coolant leaks outside the engine.. If these slow leaks aren't seen and taken care of promptly the heads and head gaskets overheat FIRST even though the temp gauge doesn't tell the driver the engine is hot! The only part that is hot is the heads and head gaskets. So the end result from a slow leak is possibly a cracked head, or a burnt head gasket.
Big JIm

 

[fordman4x492]

Get a kit to test for exhaust gasses in your coolant,

have the system pressure tested or pressure test it if you have a pressure tester. If it is a blown head gasket affecting a water jacket, the system will not hold pressure. Common for overheating since combustion will super heat the coolant. Compression test can give signs of low compression, but this can only provide a hint..

Might just be a bad radiator cap?

Has it always been like this, or is this something that's just started happening?

this just started hapening

 

[Psychopete]

this just started hapening

I'd be tempted to start w/ a cap just to see.. But it wouldn't hurt to do at least one of the test described - at least one will hint of a problem - exhaust gas test (probably best answer), cooling system pressure test (but heater core or alternative leak could be cause of bad result), or a compression test (lots of different factors) depending on what's available. A mixture of them would give a definite yes for sure, and probably would be able to isolate the cylinder.

 

[Big Jim M]

this just started hapening

To see if it is a burnt head gasket or a cracked head, do this.
fill the coolant system... put a known good cap on there. Make sure there is a minumum amount of coolant in the reserve tank.
Then start the engine and watch the tank. In a few minutes there should be small bubbles appearing in the tank from the overflow hose. That will indicate a burnt headgasket or a cracked head.
Other problems causing overflowing would be a bad thermostat, a bad fan clutch or a stopped up radiator.
If it is the headgasket or a head you can repair the problem and then look for the small leak that caused the overheating in the first place..
Big JIm