Well I was about 100 miles away from my house on my way up to NH. I had earlier that day changed out the thermostat and added a little stop leak because well I could smell antifreeze so I figured I had a leak and my temp gauge was going up and down every so often.

Well the begging of the trip the truck was running like a top, ran great. Then i stopped off at a rest stop and turned it off started back up on the highway and about 1 mile into it the truck started to develop a "tick tick tick" and it was related to the engine. I'd never heard it before this so I just kind of shrugged it off unti lit started to get louder. So I say to myself "when i get over this hill I'm going to pull over and check it out". Well a huge power lose in my truck started to happen, so I just pulled over right there and then and the power to the truck just cut off completely. Smoke was pouring out of the hood right where the thermostat is, and the resivour is filled with water and some of that stop leak came out of it.

I went out and the crank turns so I'm guessing its a huge head gasket leak....or well better said as BLOW OUT!!! I'm not sure what to do, the truck is a complete fubar right now.

 

sezed the warter pump that stop leak will do that

 

The stop leak may have clogged something up and kept coolant from flowing.

Sounds like you will be taking the heads off...

 

Never use stop leak!!!

My dad put stop leak in mine once, and we eventually had to replace the radiator because it was about half clogged up. And when the head gaskets went bad, When I replaced them, most of the passages in the old gasket were clogged with stop-leak.

 

Did you put the thermostat in upside down?
nm you wouldnt have made it that far.

 

No I put it in the right way. It was running fine. I'm just upset because I have a new job next week. So today I'm going to out to look at something new. Not brand new but with less miles. Part of this new job is to have something thats reliable and my truck just isn't anymore. I'll end up taking it off the road and pulling the heads and everything and seeing what I can do when I have a chance.

I'm going to look for a new car for me, and a new one for my parents (there concorde is at probably 170,000 miles). and then they can buy a new truck.

 

Well the engine isn't siezed. It still turns over. but it won't fire. the water pump pulley still turns also. I'm not sure whats going on. I'm going to get a code reader today or tomorrow. I have to call out of work tomorrow but I'm going to end up dropping off my father and brother and then heading out to a dealership to see about getting a car. I was looking at either an 04 mustang or an 06 accord, I also wanted to check out a 03 ranger with a 4.0L but it was closed yesterday and isn't open today.

 

good luck with whatever you end up doing. It really is a sh!tty situation when your DD/your baby takes a big crap on you like that.


I ended up driving 5mi with immediately noticed power loss, assumed it was still warming up. Then.....the truck just died, in gear coming down a hill with no throttle. pulled over. noticed a nice fat old in my block. gotta love 305's. lol.

 

Yeah, I tell everyone I'll see my baby girl rot in my yard before I see her in the hangs of someone else. I'm going to check out the laws in CT and see what I can do.

So far its between a 4BT or a 5.0L. Or maybe a new 4.0 SOHC depending on the laws. I can't put another 3.0L in there.

 

Go 4.0

 

:move to rhode island ill get it to pass sombrero:

 

ha ha ha. Well I bought a scan tool today for any OBDII vehicle and its not throwing any codes.

 

Check your oil. If it is milky it is probably the head gasket.

Otherwise, that stopleak stuff may have clogged the wrong holes.

 

No the oil doesn't look milky or even low. no bubbles.

 

Under the dash on the passenger side is a huge red button. Push and hold it in for a few seconds. It should fire up. That stop leak aint worth a damn. Try it and see. When my fuel pump was about to go out it done exactly what yours did. I ended up getting a new fuel pump and Fuel safty shut off switch.

 

Ok, I'll give it a look see. Thanks.