Just took my heads off today... (Huge pics)

[Chance]

...and it doesn't look pretty. Problem is, I'm not sure exactly what's wrong (yeah, I'm an idiot). My truck was running horrible, lost power, and started bellowing white smoke. Okay, blown head gasket I thought. The curious thing was, my engine started firing on only 5 cylinders. So, here's what I found after a long time of cursing at, beating and wrenching on my engine. (oh and the gaskets weren't damaged at all)

Heads off:

Left head:

Cylinders 1,2, and 3:

Right head:

4,5, and 6:

So... what would the problem and fix be? I'm at a loss
Thanks guys.

 

[rurouni20xx]

i see carnage, all the cylinders arent even burning even. the white valves suggest pinging, the rest look rich as hell and even burning oil on the ones w/ heavy carbon in them. idk but thats def not good, lets see what the others have to say.

 

[ibleedblue]

Did you do a compression test before tearing down? If so what were the results?

 

[wvcat]

That middle cylinder on the bottom head had a blown head gasket. Notice how the water cleans the piston and compression chamber. The head should be dipped,magnafuxed and resurfaced unless you are brave and want to take a chance. If your brave clean everything spotless and reassemble but you may not cure the problem.

 

[Chance]

Thanks guys for affirming my doubts...

and no, I kicked myself when I thought about it after I already tore half the engine apart but I forgot to compression test it

Hmmm... I don't think I want to spend money fixing the 3.0...

 

[04 EDGE]

lookes like this head is cracked

 

[mixwell]

I agree with 04 Edge.. Looks cracked. You should check it out to confirm if what we're seeing is a crack or maybe just a scratch or image issue.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

wow, that is one beat 3.0

the left head got hot (lean?), hense the white valves. the right bank appears to be rich and/or eating oil.

i would throw a running junkyard motor at it. that thing doesnt even look like its worth getting into.

 

[dmalle02]

I plan on doing a compression test on my 94 3L.. dont mean to high jack the thread but i was wondering what the compression of each cylinder would be for a healthy engine? its got 162,000 km's on it. Also i have herd when doing compression test to let it turn over 3 times and also have been told to let it turn over 5 times which is correct? And then the hioghest reading is the cylinders compression?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

more important than the actual compression numbers is the percent difference between all 6 cylinders. ideally, no more than 10% variation is "good".

i like to see over 120PSI for best fuel economy and power.

turn the engine over until the pressure gauge stops climbing (usualy 3-5 times).

 

[dmalle02]

ok good to know thanks for the help.. This may seem like a dumb question but i was wondering if any things such as air filter, plugs, etc could play an effect on the reading?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

an extremely clogged air filter could give you a low reading. but i imagine if it was so clogged as to effect a compression test then your engine would be running very poorly, if at all.

you have to remove the spark plugs to do the compression test so, no, plugs will not effect it.

 

[dmalle02]

Oh sh*t lol i forgot u had to remove those i would have remembered come tomorrow haha.. Thanks again dude.. your help is appreciateD!

 

[Chance]

I'll get pics up in a few minutes verfying that crack... I believe its just a pine needle stuck to it but I'll double check. Yeah it is pretty beat... I bought it knowing it was run hard and proceeded to run it even harder and paid for it . I'm gonna look for a new truck or a junkyard 3.0 for the meantime... I'm thinking its time for a first gen explorer.

 

[Chance]

Yep it was a pine needle...