New member here, looking for knowledge and advice. I live in PA, right on the Mason Dixon line and recently became the owner of an 89 F250 7.3. I knew the truck had some issues when I traded for it and was willing to learn the ins and outs and rehab the truck. It is in overall ok shape, with a new paint job and a bed with no rust(replaced).
Here are the issues that I have observed:
- previous owner had truck on push button start due to the key/ignition strip out. I have to turn the ignition block under the column on manually and then there is a toggle that activate the WTS light and the fuel pump. The starter is engaged by a push button. Ghetto fabulous, and I am working to fix it. I have the new ignition and key/stirrup, but I understand it is tedious and just have not started.
-The truck runs ok, it starts very hard with a short period of white smoke. The motor has a slight shake to it but seems to have normal power. The injector lines/caps/orings are all new.
- The glow plugs are all dead, I have 6 removed and they all came out pretty easily. They are Autolites, I have their replacements in hand and they are the Motorcraft/Beru plugs. However, I have begun to troubleshoot the GP relay and realize that it is only putting out about 2 or 3 volts when the WTS light is activated. I am think I will go ahead and replace the relay and see if that is the issue.
-There is fuel in the valley. It doesn't seem to be coming from the lines or valves, most likely the IP, but the valley is seemingly always wet and the truck smells like diesel from across the yard. Even the cab smells terrible, so my guess is that the IP is leaking.
OK, with all of the above issues(which are relatively minor and easy,even for a novice), the following may be a large issue. I have noticed block sealer in the coolant reservoir. It is uniform black balls and there is seemingly a slight black-maybe oily film. Not sure what to think about this. The oil is not milky, no coolant smell from exhaust or sustained white smoke that would indicate coolant in the block. There is absolutely Zero blow by and no noticeable bubbles or gasses in the radiator when the truck is running. I have driven the truck minimally since I got it (maybe 200 miles), but I did run it for 2 hours on the highway in the mid 90s with no issue whatsoever. The previous owner had a smoke stack, which I promptly removed and turned up the fuel pump.
Basically, with the indications of block sealer in the reservoir, but no blow by or gas bubbles in coolant, should I be very alarmed and should I limit the amount of $$ and time I devote to the ignition and glow plugs? Also, with the fuel in the valley, I am starting to believe the IP may have a leak.
I am wondering everyone's thoughts on my situation and I am open to all recommendations.
FYI, the truck says 187,000 on the odometer and I am not sure if that is completely accurate. Also, I feel pretty confident in saying that the previous owners were not in the know regarding SCAs or cavitation preventions.
Here are the issues that I have observed:
- previous owner had truck on push button start due to the key/ignition strip out. I have to turn the ignition block under the column on manually and then there is a toggle that activate the WTS light and the fuel pump. The starter is engaged by a push button. Ghetto fabulous, and I am working to fix it. I have the new ignition and key/stirrup, but I understand it is tedious and just have not started.
-The truck runs ok, it starts very hard with a short period of white smoke. The motor has a slight shake to it but seems to have normal power. The injector lines/caps/orings are all new.
- The glow plugs are all dead, I have 6 removed and they all came out pretty easily. They are Autolites, I have their replacements in hand and they are the Motorcraft/Beru plugs. However, I have begun to troubleshoot the GP relay and realize that it is only putting out about 2 or 3 volts when the WTS light is activated. I am think I will go ahead and replace the relay and see if that is the issue.
-There is fuel in the valley. It doesn't seem to be coming from the lines or valves, most likely the IP, but the valley is seemingly always wet and the truck smells like diesel from across the yard. Even the cab smells terrible, so my guess is that the IP is leaking.
OK, with all of the above issues(which are relatively minor and easy,even for a novice), the following may be a large issue. I have noticed block sealer in the coolant reservoir. It is uniform black balls and there is seemingly a slight black-maybe oily film. Not sure what to think about this. The oil is not milky, no coolant smell from exhaust or sustained white smoke that would indicate coolant in the block. There is absolutely Zero blow by and no noticeable bubbles or gasses in the radiator when the truck is running. I have driven the truck minimally since I got it (maybe 200 miles), but I did run it for 2 hours on the highway in the mid 90s with no issue whatsoever. The previous owner had a smoke stack, which I promptly removed and turned up the fuel pump.
Basically, with the indications of block sealer in the reservoir, but no blow by or gas bubbles in coolant, should I be very alarmed and should I limit the amount of $$ and time I devote to the ignition and glow plugs? Also, with the fuel in the valley, I am starting to believe the IP may have a leak.
I am wondering everyone's thoughts on my situation and I am open to all recommendations.
FYI, the truck says 187,000 on the odometer and I am not sure if that is completely accurate. Also, I feel pretty confident in saying that the previous owners were not in the know regarding SCAs or cavitation preventions.
