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AngelaStark
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Mar 23, 2012, 10:00 PM
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I have a 92 ford explorer. She is my baby, don't tell me to sell it, please. In july 2011 I replaced the transmission. In August the coolant kept disappearing so I put stop leak in it. Then I replaced the thermostat and back flushed the rad because stop leak did exactly what I expected it to do. Gummed everything up. In september, I replaced the upper rad hose. The coolant level would either be extremely high, or non existant in the overflow reservoir when cold. In December I replaced the water pump. Still wasn't solved. Figured I was going to have to do a rad flush. But then in January, steam was coming out of the exhaust and she is running rough. Really rough. Is this a head gasket issue?
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Hammer Time
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Mar 24, 2012, 3:28 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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You said you didn't want us to tell you to get rid of the truck so go ahead and spend a few thousand dollars to repair a truck worth 1//4 of that.
It's got a blown head gasket and pretty much needs an engine.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 24, 2012, 7:14 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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I thought maybe it was the heater core that was the issue. The steam coming from the exhaust doesn't appear to be anything but steam, and there is no oil in the rad. However it does seam to be somewhat congealed. It turns out my husband put more stop leak in it, following directions carefully. Would back flushing and draining the rad possibly fix the issue? And this vehicle was given to me by my sons for my birthday.
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Hammer Time
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Mar 24, 2012, 7:17 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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LOL..............NO
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 24, 2012, 7:21 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you for your help. I was hoping it wouldn't be a totally new engine.
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Hammer Time
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Mar 24, 2012, 7:36 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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There are only a couple ways for coolant to get into the combustion system. Blown head gasket is by far, the most common failure for yours. Your one other possibility that needs to be eliminated is a leaking intake manifold gasket. A combustion gas test on the cooling system should eliminate that possibility.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 24, 2012, 10:00 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you, again. I was going to do a compression test, but then thought I better ask before I put more money into something and NOT solve the problem. So I will continue with that diagnostic test after all.
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Hammer Time
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Mar 24, 2012, 10:09 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Compression test may be inconclusive.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
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Mar 24, 2012, 10:10 AM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Leak down test would probably give you a better diagnosis of a blown head gasket. Depending on which cylinder you screw the tester into, when you connect compressed air, you'll probably see bubbles in the radiator.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 24, 2012, 11:20 AM
Post #10 of 23
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Bubbles in the radiator??? Like when you squeeze the upper rad hose it gurgles at you??? And when you are driving you can hear the gurgles it makes???
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Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 25, 2012, 12:08 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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If coolant level is low for any reason that would happen so alone not conclusive. White steam out tailpipe is as HT said damming for head gasket problems.
There are a few tests to verify that while intact now if still intact. If you pressure check system on radiator you may find a wet spark plug with coolant. If bad enough it could fill a cylinder so leave plugs out for a crank or hydraulic lock will just make this engine a boat anchor!
T
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Discretesignals
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Mar 25, 2012, 1:25 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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A cylinder leak down tester uses compressed air to determine the leak rate in a cylinder to determine if you have have something worn out or leaking causing low compression. Since the cylinder is being compressed with air, if you have a bad head gasket that is blown in a way that coolant is getting into the cylinder, the compressed air will escape into the coolant system and you will see bubbles in the radiator or surge tank.
When the engine is running, it is possible that some of those combustion gases can get into the coolant system and create air pockets. You get enough air in the system and the coolant can't circulate which will cause the engine to run hot or overheat.
Not only can you get bubbles in the radiator from a bad headgasket with the cylinder being compressed, but you can also get bubbles if you have a cracked cylinder wall or cracked cylinder head.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 25, 2012, 4:20 PM)
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AngelaStark
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Mar 25, 2012, 4:10 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you. So, the air pockets and overheating that we have been trying to resolve from the beginning had nothing to do with the cooling system. It only had to do with a bad head gasket. So... now I have to learn how to replace the head gasket... or find another engine. Thank you for letting me know... I so much appreciate it.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 25, 2012, 4:12 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you for all your help. Now I am absolutely sure that it is the head gasket, so I either have to put another engine into it, or learn how to replace the head gasket. Thank you.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 25, 2012, 4:15 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you for all your help. It is very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Discretesignals
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Mar 25, 2012, 4:23 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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You won't be able to confirm if it is a head gasket or cracks in the cylinder wall or head, unless you perform that test or your seeing combustion gasses in the coolant system with the engine running.
If you find you are getting air with the tester or combustion gasses into the coolant system, you won't be able to percisely determine if the head gasket or a crack problem is the cause until you remove the cylinder heads and inspect for a breached head gasket or cracks visually.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 25, 2012, 4:24 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 25, 2012, 4:33 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Not so fast on a new engine. You may want to take that one apart after extensive testing while intact to determine if fixing or trashing the whole thing is the best choice still unknown for sure.
Air or exhaust gasses vs liquid in a cooling system even though it reads hot will NOT transfer heat worth a damn. Just filling some systems is a total job no matter why it was emptied or low. If found low more than a rare bit that alone is a warning.
Heat rises and so does vapor/air in system so the higher parts get damaged earlier usually. Then you still have chances that there are defects/cracks in parts not just gaskets. Takes a lot to know what the real problem is which is greatly part of why these jobs get expensive out there.
Do as much diagnosing as you can so you don't waste $$ on doing the wrong things,
Tom
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Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 25, 2012, 4:36 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Do we think alike DS?
Tom
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AngelaStark
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Mar 25, 2012, 5:24 PM
Post #19 of 23
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Re: steam in exhaust
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So, what I am going to do, is diagnose the best that I can. Then I will take it to a garage for them to confirm or disprove my diagnosis. Then take the correct steps from the result of their diagnoses. Thank you.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 25, 2012, 5:25 PM
Post #20 of 23
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you, Tom. Please read reply to DS. Thank you.
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nickwarner
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Mar 25, 2012, 6:05 PM
Post #21 of 23
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Re: steam in exhaust
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If you choose to keep fixing this and do find a compression leak to coolant, please ensure you send the heads to a machine shop while they are off. they must be checked to be sure the deck surface is straight. Get .005 of an inch of deviation and your new gasket will not work. With the age of the heads you'd likely at least need new valve seals. If they recommend rebuilding the heads won't run more than $350 tops for the pair and I bet they needed it. If you try to cut the corner on this I will tell you a story from when I had my own shop.
I had a customer who wanted to diagnose his own problems. Wouldn't let me find it out myself. I told him no guarantees that anything will work right if I'm regarded as a parts changer and him the brains of the operation. But his check cleared the bank and he was insistent.
He brought me a 98 Grand Prix with a 3.8 that had milky oil. He insisted it must be a lower intake gasket. I replaced it per spec.
Three days later he had milky oil and a rod knock. He said he wanted a reman crank kit and head gaskets put in it. I asked what machine shop he wanted the head sent to and he said they were all a ripoff. Did all that work which realistically would've been more practical to rebuild the motor at this point. But he had more money than brains and wouldn't listen to my advice. I did the repairs.
Eighteen hours after picking the car up he called me yelling that I messed something up. Milky oil. I took off the heads and sent them to a machine shop I knew. Both heads were cracked. I billed him extra just for being a dick and accusing me of trying to rip him off when he didn't know what he was doing.
The moral of the story is you get nothing saved by cutting corners on the proper diagnosis and repair of the internals of an engine. That man paid me enough in bills to buy a couple of Pontiacs and still acts disgruntled even though he instisted on calling the shots. I do not insinuate that you are doing the same by any means, just wish to put that out there.
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AngelaStark
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Mar 25, 2012, 7:12 PM
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Thank you, Nick. I have a lot of info now that I didn't have before. I think when I try to diagnose the problem, I will be more eliminating issues rather then diagnose the trouble. Or... and this is probably my best bet... take down all this advice and have the vehicle towed to my fave garage, and ask them which issue it would be. When they determine the issue, and if it is the head, I will follow your advice. I won't be doing that on my own. If it is something I can do, then I will. I don't have many of the tools that will be needed to do all of these suggestions on my own. But, the more I can learn from all of you the better I like it. And I am so very appreciative that each and every one of you has responded to my question. You are all my heros. Thank you.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 26, 2012, 4:49 AM
Post #23 of 23
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Re: steam in exhaust
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Angel: We are all volunteers from all around mostly US. No matter. Objective is to get you the best info we can via this format and nothing is going to be like "right there" but know that diagnosis is the name of the game and the fix can be basic.
I speak for these guys and right now are all guys with some insane amount of experience they share with strangers out there.
We (I would hope) are here to help and suggest as best we can - high tech computer crap or not it is still limited vs being there.
I swear nobody regular here mean any harm but rather sharing what we've busted knuckles over already to share for free as you've noticed what we have been through. Nuff said,
T
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