jonleroy2506
Registered User
Hey all,
Got a question for y'all. First some back story. 1991 f250 7.3 idi overheated just over a month ago. I thought I had just ran it out of coolant, so I filled the radiator back up with water after work so I could get home. Drove it for almost a month with no issues, then it overheated again. Filled it with water once again and drove it to my grandpa's shop to put a new radiator in, as the old one had sprung a leak at the top by the upper radiator hose. I wasn't surprised that it broke there, as it had been repaired with jb weld about 2 years ago. With a new radiator in it it still ran hot, so I put a new thermostat in it. Unfortunately I later read that only a motorcraft thermostat should be used, and I didn't use one. The thermostat seems to be functioning poorly, but the truck primarily operates in the 'normal' temperature range. However, I am having to add about a gallon and a half of water every day to keep the radiator full. There are no visible leaks. The engine feels sluggish, and there is an odd greyish - brown sludge building up on the radiator cap. Can anyone confirm that this is likely a cracked head? I think that I am losing coolant into the exhaust in the form of steam which I think would explain the lack of visible leakage. If this does sound like a cracked head, what would it entail to replace it? I have a parts truck with good heads and I would like to do the work myself, so any guidance would be appreciated
Got a question for y'all. First some back story. 1991 f250 7.3 idi overheated just over a month ago. I thought I had just ran it out of coolant, so I filled the radiator back up with water after work so I could get home. Drove it for almost a month with no issues, then it overheated again. Filled it with water once again and drove it to my grandpa's shop to put a new radiator in, as the old one had sprung a leak at the top by the upper radiator hose. I wasn't surprised that it broke there, as it had been repaired with jb weld about 2 years ago. With a new radiator in it it still ran hot, so I put a new thermostat in it. Unfortunately I later read that only a motorcraft thermostat should be used, and I didn't use one. The thermostat seems to be functioning poorly, but the truck primarily operates in the 'normal' temperature range. However, I am having to add about a gallon and a half of water every day to keep the radiator full. There are no visible leaks. The engine feels sluggish, and there is an odd greyish - brown sludge building up on the radiator cap. Can anyone confirm that this is likely a cracked head? I think that I am losing coolant into the exhaust in the form of steam which I think would explain the lack of visible leakage. If this does sound like a cracked head, what would it entail to replace it? I have a parts truck with good heads and I would like to do the work myself, so any guidance would be appreciated
