Blown Head gasket? coolant leak? Help please...

[IsaacNelson98]

Here's the deal. Bought an $800 bronco from an lady i work for(im sixteen), it ran great after a few simple fixes. It, like any EB didnt like starting cold, what was weird was sometimes even warm (70 degrees) it started rough-with a bit of smoke out the tail pipe. not knowing the severity of this, again im sixteen, i kept driving. TODAY it was around 75 out, and i went to drive home, had a terrible time starting it, but it finally did, then died.... then started... then died but would run IF i gave it some pedal. Now i'm home (this happened 20 mins ago), there is NO coolant in the overflow and the temp gage was nearly maxed....

My assumption, and fear is a head gasket given the white smoke in the morning and sometimes afternoon. I JUST fixed a sending unit leak, headlight and other fun jazz so i could use the rig to get my license. Now i have a license and a job in town (need rig).

So here's the help i need, how do i fix this? What's the best way to do it? Replace the head or engine? do i need to rebuild certain things. ONCE AGAIN, im sixteen and got a SUPER nice condition uncut bronco for cheap, and now have $50 to my name after just getting a new job.

I don't intend to sound like i'm whining or ranting or whatever, i just really need some good tips from anybody right now. Any help and tips are greatly appreciated, these forums and you guys have been extremely helpful so far.

 

[half cab]

Have you checked the oil to see if any coolant is mixed in?-0

Is it a V8 or inline 6? could be a stuck thermostat?

 

[IsaacNelson98]

No i haven't, honestly don't know how to do that but my dad should.... Its a v8, I the ladys husband was a lawyer and kept EXTENSIVE records, theres notes to watch the coolant from a mechanic since 2005 and on. WHat makes me so concerned is that it died so easily when it was 75... and the white smoke in morning i THOUGHT was steam. it has never died that easy before.

 

[broncobilly72]

Like halcab says, check the oil.If it's chocolate brown you have got a blown head gasket. Pull the cap off the radiator(after the engine is cool) and start her up. if you look down into the radiator hole and see heavy bubbling, that is another sign of a bad head gasket. you shouldn't need a complete rebuild but maybe just pulling the heads and replacing the gaskets.

 

[bax]

Pull the plugs. If you have a very clean plug that is the cylinder with the problem. This is also a good time to do a compression check. You can have a blown head gasket without water in the oil. You do not need to pull the motor to fix the head gasket.

 

[IsaacNelson98]

Turns out it was a loose hoseclamp going into the radiator combined with a leaky accelerator pump. Also a bit of water out of the fan bearing on the water pump. SOOO happy it wasn't a head. So thank you for your help everybody, when i get a chance i'll pay the 12 and post some pictures.

 

[half cab]

Post some up in you're gallery where you joined up here .