Hi I have a 93 Ford f450 7.3 idi truck has been going through alot of oil lately. over heated due to a bad thermostat.I change it by putting a new one in with fresh antifreeze runs good. But still using oil. Went to use the truck and I started down the road temp started going to hot. Checked the coolant and it was low and noticed oil in the antifreeze. I also noticed alot of smoke coming out of the tail pipe.what would cause this.
Depending on how bad you overheated it, you could have cracked cyl. heads or blown head gaskets. Overheating can cause loss of piston ring tension too, which might explain the smoke. Best test is buy a coolant pressure tester, remove all the glow plugs, pressurize the system then crank the engine over by hand and see if coolant comes out a glow plug hole. That will give a clue where to start looking. If you're lucky it's just oil cooler seals.
Forgot to say the only thermostats that are correct for these engines have to be bought from Ford or an IH dealership. Other parts house brands can cause overheating.
I have seen cracked heads leak only when hot. Having said that, however, in all of the years that I've been around these engines, I've never seen a cracked head on one of them. Even after they were pretty seriously overheated. I've only seen one with a cracked cylinder. You can take that for what it's worth, I'd re-seal the oil cooler and see what happens.
Yep, me too, rarely, but it happens. Actually there's been several pics of cracked heads on here over the years. Like most, always between the intake and exhaust seats no doubt from badly overheating. But as you said, sounds like the cooler.
Ok thanks I will buy o rings and gaskets for the oil cooler. I hope the heads are OK. I wouldn't let the temp go to the hot mark. The highest I would let it get is to the L on normal.
You're probably just fine then. I've run one up 'till the idiot light came on, and no damage. You DO have to shut down immediately when that happens, though.
Never had mine that hot. I have this truck back together but this is what is coming out of the tail pipe. It's not over heating. Here is a pic of the smoke not sure it if fuel or antifreeze or oil ..
You will probably see antifreeze leaking out the tail pipe if it is that. A good whiff of the smoke will tell you what it is also. Get back there in the cloud and sniff. It will definitely let you know what it is.
I don't see anything out of the tail pipe. I tried doing the sniff test and to me it smells like a gas motor. On the other hand I put in a injectshion pump and its not timed. I hope it's that .
It could be. Diesel has a distinct smell out of the tail pipe. Oil has the same sulpher smell it always has. If you just put a new IP on it then it's possible there are some cylinders that weren't hitting right and they have a little carbon build-up that will clear up after a while.
I think your all right about cracked heads.now once that happines do both go at the same time. And the reason why I say it the heads is because I am still loosing antifreeze.
Does anyone know if a 1994 Ford Econoline ambulance with 7.3 idi automatic is the same with a 1993 Ford 450/ Superduty 7.3 idi. both of these do not have turbos. What I am trying to do is put the ambulance motor in the 93 ford..
sorry but ya mighta blowed a head and or gasket. only way to know for sure I, run a compression test or use a exhaust in coolant type tool or, just pull the heads. start soaking the exhaust bolts with a good nut buster like PB blaster or something ahead of time. if you didn't get it real hot probably didn't crack anything.
good luck!
Hook your tester up and run the engine till it gets to operating temp. Don't pump the pressure up, just let the engine heat do it. Then just shut it down and look for external leaks, while pulling the glow plugs out to see if it's getting into the cylinders. It will build up more pressure than the engine usually runs at, because the cap adapter on the tester is not relieved. 20 PSI is about all you want to let it build up to, so watch it while it is running.
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