Would you trust this engine? Overheated it bad...

[MoonDog]

The way things have been, I havent driven my truck much at all in the past year, and I want to say the last time I drove it off the property was back in august. Just recently I fired it up for a trip into town, and the thermostat ended up sticking on me! About a mile from my place is a very steep long bridge I had to cross, and noticed the temp gauge nearing the red once I got over it, so I pulled off the road to check things out. I was getting plenty of heat from the heater, very hot top radiator hose, but the radiator and return hose were cold, so I figured I wasnt getting any coolant flow. I let the truck sit a while to cool off and head back home. I was hoping crossing the bridge would be a nice quick shot, if I could get to the other side I could park it to cool and walk home if I had to. I ended up behind a log truck, and by the time I crested the bridge the temp gauge was well into the red and the engine light was on. (stopping once on the bridge was not an option)

Once I could get stopped I shut it down, and waited a bit. I went to restart it to see what the temp looked like, and the engine wouldn't turn over. Got a good solid thud from the starter, but things were definately locked up in there. I walked home and came back that evening and it started and drove home just fine.

So, having been overheated to the point of locking up, is this engine a time bomb waiting to leave me stranded on the side of the road 1,000 miles from home? Have I done massive internal damage? I know these IDIs are durable and forgiving, but I think I've pushed the limit too far

 

[hesutton]

Love your handle by the way.......I was a big Moon Dog fan as a kid watching wrestling!

Anyway, you've got to fix the overheating issue. Get the thermostat checked out and if it needs to be replaced with a genuine Ford/Motorcraft part (number E5TZ 8575 C).

I'd change the oil....it is shot now.....and use it.......see what happens. Hopefully you didn't crack a head.....they certainly can crack when these engines get hot. If you start spitting coolant out the exhaust....it may be time for new heads.

Change the oil again in a very short interval like 500-1000 miles. If it works like it should.....enjoy it. Yeah, you've shortend it's life I'm sure, but it might not be dead for another 100,000 miles.

 

[tractorman86]

i'd run it around your place a bit and see if it looses any fluid or mixes any. that will tell you how bad you hurt it. But FIRST and foremost i would change that thermostat so you don't have a repeat, also check your rad for blockage.

 

[icanfixall]

Yes... You have really hurt the motor. Replace the thermostat and check the radiater for proper flow. If you see oil in the radiater that my prove to be the oil cooler o-ring. It could also be a head gasket or cracked head. I lost a freeze plug on a rebuild 7.3 at 5200 miles while pulling a grade on the freeway. No coolant... No coolant gauge working. I pulled over when I saw the oil temp on the motor pass 330 degrees. The motor stopped before I got over to the side of the freeway. That motor scuffed 6 of the 8 piston skirts so bad they needed replaceing... The crappy shop that did the freeze plug installation didn't use the special tool or the stainless steel plugs. That cost me 6 months and $2300.00 in repairs. New heads and my own porting.. New valves.. New lifters, bearings cam seals and pistons. Then balancing everything again. Not very happy about it but at least its running fine again. You can try to run it but be prepared for it to destroy itself. When the pistons scuff they leave material on the cylinders and the rings have a hard time with that.

 

[MoonDog]

Hey thanks guys!

Guess I should have mentioned, I pulled and tested the Tstat, it's definitely stuck. And thanks for the part number, I had read that you need a non-bypass thermostat even though the kids at the parts stores around here swear up and down their computer says otherwise...

I'll change the fluids and put some local miles on it and see what happens,

 

[MoonDog]

Icanfixall:

Ah thank you, can't say thats what i wanted to hear, but definitely the kind of thing I needed to know. Sorry to hear about your engine, I know I hate it when someone elses mistakes or corner-cutting comes back to bite me

 

[icanfixall]

Moondog... I look at what happened as a lesson learned. I learned not to use brass freeze plugs... I learned not to let someone that "claims" to be a professional that chance to screw things up and to use the proper tool. Some over on the "other site" feel because they have been installing these non cup freeze plugs for 30+ years without the proper tool they can do it and get away with it. Maybe they learned something along the way from doing so many but... Theres no excuse for screwing up something because you can take a shortcut. The tool costs around $135.00.... My repairs cost me $2300.00. The reputation of the shop I used is shot to hell forever. I wont recommend them to anybody... Not even a chevy or cummins driver... Just kidding bout the cummins and chevys. I drive a chevy C30 and can respect the cummins.... Websters defination of Dodge... Something to be avoided.

 

[MUDKICKR]

i would change the oil, then save a sample and send it off to be tested. then change it at 500 miles and send a sample off and see if there is a differance. they would be able to help you with your questions.

 

[david85]

I remember when I had my block worked on, the machinist didn't even touch the stainless steel core plugs and left them in through hot tanking and everything. I guess he had the right idea. I've got about 10k miles on the engine now, and haven't had any problems.