Swampthing Down! White Smoke, Studdering, Loosin Coolant
 

Ok, well noticed last night when I left the bar that truck was wantin to die out. Coulda swore there was some smoke comin outta my tailpipe. Also noticed the Thing was running hot (bout 5/8ths the way up the t-stat). Thought I had just not put on the rad cap back on correctly and the coolant steamed out.


WELL... Got up this mornin and lifted the hood. Checked the rad, was really really low, so I added some coolant. Started it up and *GROG GROG GROG GROG vrrrr vrrr vrOOM VRROOOM GROG GROG GROG GROG*, and copious amounts of white smoke were jetting outta my exhast pipe. I mean enough white smoke to put 5 cars doing the seafoam treatment through the vacuum method to shame. It even smokes at an idle, but once you hit the gas, the smoke just rolls and rolls out like a coal train (but with white smoke instead of black)

Check my oil, doesn't really seem milky at all, so I doubt that any coolant is gettin into the oil. Guess the symptoms boiled down are: VERY rough running, white smoke, and coolant MIA somewhere (well, it's not really MIA cause I suppose it's the white smoke LEAVING my tailpipe)...

Any ideas or thoughts? Was thinking waterpump or waterpump gasket. SOB and a 1/2 to do in a day? Cause I'm kinda missing work to take care of this today...

Sorry to say it but headgasket.

the oil would be milky with that was the case

Rechecked the oil, since it was before I started it and saw all the smoke when I checked the oil.

It's definitely milky. Very milky.

Headgasket is almost 100% confirmed now huh?

Ok well, anyone got some lit or links on HG repairs for the 22re handy? Think it can be done in a day? And yes I have "some" mechanical ability ;) Just aint never done a HG replacement yet...

It could be done in a day, if you had the replacements parts.

Rob

Yep, HG, good luck swampthing!

just a note, make sure to label everything, and if you still have the vacuum system hooked up, label all that stuff to, makes putting everything back together a lot easier, and if you haven't done the timing chain yet, nows a good time to go about that.

I would deffinately recommend trying one of the metallic block/HG sealers. The two I have seen most talked about are K&W Metallic Block Seal and CRC Copper Block Weld.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...=115542&page=3

I would suggest emptying your coolant and oil, and add fresh oil.
Flush the cooling sys real clean with water and run the sealer as indicated. Refill will water only. Don't bother replacing will antifreeze until you've run it for a couple weeks and you are sure that all the sealer is completely flushed out.
I think people's biggest problem occur when the sealers mix with the antifreez and then it crystalizes.

Mine has been holding great for over a month and 1000 miles.

EDIT: after 4.5 months and 3000 miles, my head started leaking again from the same spot. So, it wasn't a miracle fix, but it bought me some time.

That's a band-aid for the real problem. It's going to blow again and then you will be stranded.

Rob

doesnt always mix when the headgasket is blown..........i've had a headgasket go and the oil still looked fine.. car overheated and ran like ▓▓▓▓, also smoked and plugs looked all rusty but no mixing... pulled the head off and replaced and it was fine after that.

Please do not use that crap.
It will just case you more problems in the end.
Good luck with your hg replacment bud!

not really, at our shop w have done it before, 2 bottles and your good to go. we have had numerous trucks we have done this to and all of them are still on the road today, even after 10 years.

IF you have to take the cam off, i highly reccomend taking a little exra time and doing the valve seals.

Hey Swamp, it's really not all that difficult.. Just make sure you label everything so you will know what goes where.. Like, 1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.

You could do it in a day if you have all the parts and a complete day to work on it. Be sure to get the head checked by a reputable machine shop for warps or cracks.

dont use the "magic crap"

Eh, broke down and bought a diesel today. Cummins power baby! Now I can work on the swampthing at my leisure, and still not be outta a DD...

And yeah, it blows smoke. But the good kind ;) Thick copious amounts of mmm diesel smellin blindin black smoke. Much preferable to the white smoke caused by the blown HG lol.