Blown head gasket or maybe something else?

Hi,

I attached the directions for the removal and replace the cooler of the cooler. Take a look through it and let me know if you have questions.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.

I appreciate the instructions but I'm not sure it will matter. I attempted to turn it over today just to move the internals a little and when I turned the ignition started to turn over for about a second before the crank stopped turning. I tried to turn it clockwise by hand and it wouldn't budge but was able to turn it counterclockwise enough to know it wasn't locked up, so there is definitely water in one of the cylinders. Still doesn't explain the volume of the water coming out of the pan, but it tells me enough to know that replacing the engine with a decent used engine would probably be the best avenue. The only one I've been able to find is one with 250,000 miles on it, but supposedly has been checked out and runs good. That's a lot of miles on a used motor although prob close to the same amount that's on the one in the truck. Not many other options unfortunately, as far as motors go, other than ones that are twice the price all with at least 160,000 miles on them.

Hey Joe, hope you're feeling better man.
I came across some information and wanted to know if there was a way for you to verify.
As you're aware there is a Windsor and a Romeo version of the 4.6L. Evidentially the 1997 F150 4.6 L engines with 6 as the 8th digit on the VIN was built in Ontario, Canada and would be a Windsor engine (makes sense) and the engines with W as the 8th digit on the VIN means it was made in Romeo, Michigan (which makes no sense)
Is that accurate or would you know? Common sense says if the 8th digit is a W it would stand for Windsor, not Romeo.

Hi,

I'm not sure if that is accurate. Although it would make sense, that usually isn't the way things work out.

If you look below, it shows how to determine which you have. Also, it indicates the location of manufacturing. W= Romeo Plant 6= Windsor Plant.

Let me know if this helps.

Joe

See pic below.

Yes, it clarified what I'd found out, thank you.

Hi,

You are very welcome. Take care and let me know how things turn out for you or if I can help in any way.

Joe

I will keep you updated, thank you. The caveat appears to be how many bolts the flywheel has. Still amazed by Ford that there isn't a way to distinguish.

I appreciate you getting back to me. I'm really interested in knowing what you find.

Regardless, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Take care,

Joe

Hey Joe. It's been a minute, but I did want to let you know what was going on. Still no solution to the truck. I simply can't find a 1997 4.6L Windsor engine anywhere with less than 250K miles on it. Nearly all engines I find are Romeo engines. The engines will work but there are several things that have to be changed. I did, just today, pull the plug that was on the cylinder that had the water in it and actually started the truck up, you want to talk about white smoke my neighborhood looked like one of those ocean fogs that rolls into shore so thick you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Still not sure where the massive leak is at that is filling the oil pan so quickly as I highly doubt a blown head gasket would allow water to pour into the pan as fast as it was. could be a bad oil cooler as we previously discussed. What I do know is that water was in the cylinder so that would indicate a blown head gasket or a crack. so, the motor is still going to have to be replaced. Just wanted to update you. Hope everything is well with you.

Thanks for the update. There is one on Ebay for 1100 or best offer, but it has 179K. I noted there are remanufactured ones, but then you are talking more money.

Let me know if I can help.

Joe

Yeah, I saw that. I was hoping to find an entire assembly, but the only ones are out of truck with an auto transmission, and I'm not quite sure how many things would need to be changed to make it work. I'll keep looking, one will come along eventually.

Hi,

I agree. You'll find one. Keep me in the loop. I'm interested in knowing what you find.

Joe