1991 Pickup
22RE
156,000 miles
4x4
No AC
Heater Core bypassed
New, Oil pump, water pump timing chain, head gasket (tore the original head gasket getting the timing cover back on), head bolts and thermostat changed a year ago. No problems since.

Just changed the oil ten minutes ago, not milky, no white smoke out of exhaust, just some dripping water.

Love my truck, probably paranoid over nothing, checking anyway.

Basically the short version, are the bubbles coming up out of the coolant, exhaust gases leaking though into the coolant, or just air that needs to be burped out of the system. (or can you even tell from the video). I need to drive 300 miles tomorrow.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umvLikEWOt8



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNe-eU7-l84

All the details for those who want to read them.

Truck tried to overheat about 2 months ago, pulled over well before temp got to red. Coolant was boiling, let it cool, pulled the thermostat ran it for a bit and drove home fine.

New thermostat the next day drilled a hole in the wiggle tab based on what I read.

Worked great for about a month and a half. Im in Texas its hot, and I sit in traffic. Started getting hot again (about halfway mark, normally sits at the quarter mark) Checked the coolant, reservoir was empty and I could see the top fins of the radiator. Filled it, about a week later it was roughly in the same spot.

No visible leaks. So naturally I start worrying about my head gasket. Just changed the oil, not milky, no white smoke out of exhaust, just some dripping water.

Hope im just being paranoid and there is a leak I just cant see, thanks for the advice.

 

Have you looked at the spark plugs? Have you noticed any loss of power or poor idling? I don't have sound, so all I have to go by of the video is the visuals.

How long had the vehicle been running when you shot the second video?

 

I havent looked at them lately, no loss of power, idling isn't perfect but no change for over a year. Truck had been running for about 15-20 mins for the second video, but it was pretty warm from my drive home. So 3 hours of rest, then 20 minutes of running.

 

get a sniffer tester from a parts store to check for exhaust gasses in the coolant. It turns from blue to green if there is exhaust gasses in the coolant. I picked mine up from carquest for like 40 bucks.

 

Wow didnt know something like that existed, sounds useful. I just got the truck inspected like last week would the emissions readings be of any use?

 

no not really but the kit i purchased sent me to the conclusion that my head gasket was bad and i had the same symptoms as you. Wouldn't hurt and is a good cheap way to see if the gasses are really in your coolant. It plugs into the radiator cap when filled with blue liquid. pulls vacuum from the motor and turns green or yellow if there's exhaust in the coolant.

 

Well they were out of the sniffer test kit at the local parts store. I might try and stop by one on my trip out and see if I could get one. Got 3 gallons of distilled water just in case and Ill just cross my fingers.

Thanks for the idea mightymouse.