Well, I don't typically do this, but I am desperate today.

I was driving and I made it to my destination after being towed the last 3 miles from a friend with a tow strap. It is dark so I am going to have to wait until morning to do the work, but I have some problems.

Here is the story, input is appreciated as I am going to try and fix it tommorrow. I drove from Chicago to Minnesota, 420 miles. On the highway, doing about 75-80 MPH. When I decellerated to exit the truck hesitated then chugged a little until I sped up again. I pulled into a gas station, filled up, and didn't notice anything but a few drops of coolant. Mind you the temp wasn't showing to be abnormal on the gauge. The reservoir had filled up more than when I left but thought it might have just gotten a little hot and backed up.

The first, my truck is overheating. Simple enough, I think I just blew a hose or something. I refilled with water to check and as soon as I built up pressure it all drained out. But ran until it drained. In the light I think I can take care of this part.

Now for the worrisome part. When I restarted the truck at the gas station there is white smoke coming from the exhaust now. I don't know why. Hoping maybe it is because I installed my Mopar PCM right before leaving, well, I had disconnected the battery and reconnected after doing some work right before leaving, then I jumped on the highway. It didn't really reset the system before I got on the highway, and maybe when I slowed the mix was off, but I don't know. I checked the oil and it doesn't look to be contaminated with antifreeze or anything.

I plan on checking the hoses tommorow in the light and disconnecting the battery and trying it again, but I am worried this could be a big undertaking. Thanks in advanced.

Guessing head gasket unfortunately. I have my tool bag and I am 4 miles from a NAPA. If it is the head gasket, can I take this on myself? And if I have never done it, how many hours/days should I expect it to take me?

 

Typically white steam (not smoke) coming from the exhaust means water is getting into the top of the cylinder from a blown head gasket or cracked block. It won't necessarily be seen in the oil because if you're piston rings are doing their job, they shouldn't let it get past the piston.

As for the computer resetting... the computer is the "system" and if you just put a new one in, it was as reset as it can get. In fact, what you are supposed to do after resetting the computer is take it out on the highway for 20 miles or more so that it can get all the necessary readings. I'm 100% sure it is not a computer issue, cause it sounds to me like you unknowingly "broke in" the new computer the way you are supposed to.

Sorry for the bad news, but it sounds like you might have a loooong weekend ahead of you.

 

Blown head gasket is my best guess right now huh? If it is the block I am totally sunk here. If it is the block it is time to get it towed home somehow. I lost all of my coolant, hesistates, sure it is the gaskets. Now I am 4 miles from a NAPA and I guess my best bet is to go stock up on the tools I don't have with me and a set of gaskets huh? Anything else I should get?

 

You'll need a torque wrench if you don't have one and a new set of head bolts... I've been told they aren't reusable. You'll need all the gaskets for the tear down (intake manifold, exhaust, etc). Unfortunately (for you... fortunately for me) I've never replaced head gaskets before, so I can't think of anything else.

 

I'll add one more thing... once you do the tear down, don't have a heart attack if you see a piston with a hole in it. If it weren't so late here I'd take a picture of the piston that came out of my new-to-me 360 that blew the head gasket. I hate to add bad news to bad news, but there is always the chance that you'll be putting pistons (or at least rings) in it.

*EDIT* But... since you didn't see any antifreeze in the oil, you may be fine as far as the pistons and rings go, but if you did burn a piston, you may be building a 323 :P

But on a brighter note... don't worry about it being the block. Its a lot more likely the gaskets blew. The block is tough.

 

Thanks a ton for the help. I owe you more than one for this. I will be sure to get those pictures of the boot tommorrow too when I am out there, just got side tracked with this problem tonight.

It has to be a cracked block or more likely I think a blown head gasket, guess I won't know until I get into it? I have read through the repair guide online for replacing the head gasket and it seems to be pretty straight forward. Sure they make it seem simple in the repair guide. Just seems like a difficult job because you basically have to do it on both sides, and there is a lot of stuff to take apart but overall I might be able to pull this off.

Surprisingly I did bring my torque wrench. What are the chances?

 

could the sputtering have been a result of the overheating? or does it do that regardless of whether the engine was cold from start or warm?

I what I wonder is if you lost coolant because of a hose somewhere, and the coolant all over and/or the heat from getting so hot may have caused a sensor issue. I know when I was running hot (and lean) because of a bad fuel pump, I melted the wire from the harness to the crank pos. sensor, and then the truck wouldn't start. Could this be the case w/ say the oxy sensor and changing the mixture or something? like 95 said, you would see steam not smoke.

Can you limp it to napa? Someone there might just be nice enough to help you in diagnosis, and maybe w/e work there is (I would offer to help somebody changing their head gasket in the parking lot, 400 miles from home.) I know what its like to be in the middle of know where and no way home. Though, I'd say your lucky its a friday night, had it been saturday night, or sunday, it'd be much worse... NOTHINGS OPEN ON SUNDAYS! lol... I found that out the hard way.

 

One more thing, is there a way to tell which side it might be before I get them both open? Not that I won't be replacing both eventually, but since this is more or less a "get me home" repair, doing half now and half later wouldn't be bad, unless that is a really bad idea.

Uh oh, pistons and piston rings? Tell me those aren't hard to replace.

 

I always end up bringing just about every tool I own (except the table saw) when I go long distances... too many mishaps in the back country of the UP to ever go that far without them...

 

I don't know if the sputtering could be because of the overheating. I felt it, which I assume not was my head gasket going and possibly a piston being blown away. but I think that it resulted in the overheating.

It could be steam, and probably is. I was just having a case of wishful thinking when I said it might be the mixture. Deep down I knew it probably wasn't.

Limping anywhere isn't gonna happen. I turned the truck off before I even pulled off of the road because I didn't want to make the damage irreversible. Unfortunately.