Opinions please...

[mazdab40004x4]

I've had this 94 B4000 for about 2 years. I have no idea what its history is prior to that and I have no idea how many miles it really has because the OD hasn't worked since I bought it. I'm guessing in the 200K+ range. This is not my daily driver -- I bought it cheap as a project truck and weekend hauler.

I got busy and the truck sat for about 3 months. When I went to start her up last weekend, the starter had bit the dust. I replaced that this weekend and she started right up no problem -- but there was a bunch of white puffy smoke coming out the tailpipe until it warmed up. It has done this before, but never for as long or as much smoke.

I'm guessing that the head gasket is on its way out. It doesn't seem to be mixing oil and water (oil is clear), it's not real low on coolant so it can't be leaking too much, and it's not burning any oil at all. She still runs pretty good.

I'm looking for opinions on whether this would be a 'drop everything' emergency to get the gaskets changed out or whether I can drive it on weekends for awhile without causing me to have to replace the engine completely. Just have a lot going on right now and would rather not drop another 2 days on this truck for awhile.

 

[aspevacek]

what were the temps like for you when you started it? Wa sit cooler outside? Could just be moisture that was in the exhaust system. Did the exhaust have a sweet smell to it, like i twas burning antifreeze? The are able to do a test on the cooling system to test for hydro carbons as well. Alot of shops have the test kits to do it.

 

[mazdab40004x4]

Temps were fine -- no overheating. It was about 80 degrees outside when I started it and it smoked for about 10 minutes while idling/revving in the driveway. I then drove around town for about 30 minutes. The smoking stopped, but you could definitely still smell burning antifreeze.

 

[aspevacek]

Well if that is the case then I would look at havign the head gaskets done ASAP. Antifreeze will wash out the bearing on the bottom end and could end up costing alot more in the long run. Like I said have a shop do a hydro carbons test on the cooling system and determine if exhaust is entering the cooling system in any way.

 

[mazdab40004x4]

OK, I'll have it tested. So if there are exhaust gasses in the cooling system then it's a rush job? And if not, it can wait? Or it needs to be done now regardless?

 

[mazdab40004x4]

Also -- someone at work recommended this product to hold things over:

http://barsproducts.com/catalog/view/7-head-gasket-cooling-sealant-hg-1

Anyone have any experience with Bars -- good or bad?

 

[YooperSteeze]

I've always wondered about those leak stoppers... My cousin blew a headgasket on his subaru and the shop used something like that and apparently its hit or miss, either they seal right up and you never have to worry again or they catastrophically fail at some random point.

 

[mazdab40004x4]

LOL -- That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for a product but it is what it is I suppose. Thanks.

 

[aspevacek]

ok you hav eto relize there are passages in the cooling ssytem as small as some of the things that leak. I would NEVER add one of those things to the cooling system of any vehicle I planned on keeping. It is just like th efix a flat in a ca, have you ever seen what they do to the inner side of a tire and the rim? Some things should not be fixed taking the easy way or cheap way out. That will end up costing you more in the long run then what it saved you.

 

[Frank The Tank]

If the truck sat that long, then clearly it's not a rush job or you'd have been driving it.... Just saying.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

ok you hav eto relize there are passages in the cooling ssytem as small as some of the things that leak. I would NEVER add one of those things to the cooling system of any vehicle I planned on keeping. It is just like th efix a flat in a ca, have you ever seen what they do to the inner side of a tire and the rim? Some things should not be fixed taking the easy way or cheap way out. That will end up costing you more in the long run then what it saved you.

Or what happens if they create a spark trying to get that tire off shortly after putting fix a flat in?


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[mazdab40004x4]

If the truck sat that long, then clearly it's not a rush job or you'd have been driving it.... Just saying.

Point taken. I don't drive it much in the summer -- I am usually busy with other stuff and it's hot as blazes in Atlanta and the truck has no A/C. Now that fall is rolling in I have a list of projects a mile long and need it to be running.

ok you hav eto relize there are passages in the cooling ssytem as small as some of the things that leak. I would NEVER add one of those things to the cooling system of any vehicle I planned on keeping. It is just like th efix a flat in a ca, have you ever seen what they do to the inner side of a tire and the rim? Some things should not be fixed taking the easy way or cheap way out. That will end up costing you more in the long run then what it saved you.

Thanks for your advice. That's kinda what I thought, but I figured I'd see what others were thinking.

Looks like the verdict is -- a teardown. And I'm sure there will be a whole lot of Imightaswells while I'm in the process. Oh well, at least she'll be almost as good as new when I get through with it!