Blown head gasket?

[Jerry Weidner]

Brand new rebuild on my engine, while breaking in the cam, POOF!! lots of white smoke, radiator fluid pooring out the drivers side side exhaust pipe, some oil out the passenger side exhaust pipe. I suspect a blown head gasket, anything else I should look at? Engine was rebuilt by a professional. Guess I wont be driving the car anytime soon.

Jerry

[Don H.]

Re: Blown head gasket?

Jerry, I am no expert but it sure sounds bad. I hope it isn't serious. (I just lost a rod bearing in my 60 FI going to the St. Louis Regional.)Don H.

[Dick W.]

Re: Blown head gasket?

Possible valve guide leaking. Big blocks are nortorious for this if the guides were replaced and it not correctly done.

[Randy G.]

YEEOUCH!

Not that this could have been your problem, but make sure you use a C1-4 PLUS designation oil like Shell Rotella 15W-40 or Delo 400. The new over-the-counter oils including performance oils have reduced zinc and phosphates due to EPA requirements and these kinds of problems (cams going flat, etc.) are getting to be too common. Diesel oils as of right now still have healthy levels of these compounds. Additives like STP Oil Treatment and Pyroil oil additive have zinc and phosphates in them and are a must anymore. I used to think those additives were INFOMERCIAL hype, but not any more.

Rod bearing failure sucks. Did you ever pinpoimnt what happened? Rod clearance, bad babbit, plugged oil journal from the mains?

Randy #45471