Help Truck ran great one minute than....

[brockett1]

Hello,

We just bought a 1969 f100 with a 360. We drove it home and it was running perfect, no smoking or anything. The next morning my husband took it out around the block and when he drove up it sounded like crap, and was puffing out grey smoke! it is now clanking and the whole engine vibrates... he swears he did nothing...but it was driving find the day before. Also we live where is it cold in the morings and he only let it run about 2 mins before driving it ( could this have caused a problem) he thinks it's the oil pump but is not sure? And suggestion about what to start looking at first to solve this problem would be great.



Thanks,

Bridgit

[DuckRyder]

Hi Bridget,

Not a lot to go on here, but there are quite a few things that could cause something like that.

Does the truck have gauges or warning lights, and is the oil pressure warning light or gauge indicating low or no oil pressure?

Is so that obviously needs to be fixed before running it any more, and oil pump drive shafts can break which could happen if it was very cold and the truck had very thick oil in it.

If it does have oil pressure and there is any way to get a recording that would help a great deal.

[FORDification]

Grey or black smoke usually indicates that an excess amount of fuel is being burned, typically caused from a malfunctioning choke. Can you tell us if the choke is manual or automatic? If automatic, then after the engine warms up, the butterfly should open up. If it remains fully or even partially closed, you'll likely be sucking in too much fuel, which will cause the engine to run rough.

[brockett1]

Thanks for the reply's, What happened was the truck started and ran fine we drove it for about a half hour to our house. At the end of the drive home there was a light valve / lifter noise. I thought it probably needed oil. It had oil and it was black. This truck has a temp gauge and oil gauge. The temp gauge stayed cool and the oil gauge was on the 1/4 to the 3/8 portion of the low side. The next day it didn't want to start. I thought it was because it was cold. once it started there was allot of white smoke and noise from the valves on both sides of the motor. we changed the oil and there was not any water in the oil.

[FORDification]

Hmmm...well, white smoke usually indicates water getting into the cylinders and getting burned up, typically from a blown head gasket. Sounds like maybe you need to do a compression test of the engine, to eliminate (or confirm) a bad head gasket.

However, in both posts you've mentioned internal engine noises, which usually indicate a lack of oil pressure. After you changed the oil (and filter?) and started it back up, did you notice what the oil pressure gauge was reading? (You might consider getting an inexpensive aftermarket underdash gauge setup which will include a mechanical oil pressure gauge, which is much more accurate than the factory gauge.) I'd also consider pulling one of the valve covers and starting the engine up...if there's oil pressure, you'll see it coming up onto the top of the cylinder head under that valve cover.

[Fordtastic]

what does the coolant look like?

[70shortwide]

how cold was it? maybe cracked a head or the block...

[brockett1]

well, I beleive that it was about 35 outside that day and the truck sat outside all night and it got down to about 27. I also checked the oil gauge after I changed the oil and it showes that it has oil pressure. also I checked the water and it looks green not foamy or anything.

[DuckRyder]

Did the old oil smell of fuel?

Is the engine stock?

[brockett1]

Hi,

No, the old oil did not smell like fuel. And yes the engine is stock.

[fordman]

take your cell phone and start the truck and give us a sound video of it running and then shut it off.

[Banjo]

when you changed the oil did any get on the exhaust system, manifolds or pipes? that'll smoke till it burns off. Noises are hard to pin point, could be exhaust leaks too. Was it way down on power when this problem appeared, as if it might've jumped time? The choke thing Keith mentioned is true, if the choke is staying on, it will run very rough (if not stalling from richness) and will smoke. You need to really find out if it's manual or automatic choke and if that's working. Banjo

[Fordtastic]

i had a 73 that did this... it was a cracked head... I had no water in the oil or vise versa.

[brockett1]

Hi, we pulled the plugs and there is oil on 5 of the 8 plugs? Would a jump in the timming cause this? Or would it only be cracked head?

[DuckRyder]

Jumped timing would not cause that, a cracked head might, but it would have to be both heads if it is 5 plugs, which is highly unlikely.

FE's are somewhat notorious for over oiling the top end and having less than stellar drain back, I think it is quite possible that the long trip (at presumably highway speeds) may have had the valve covers pretty full of oil which was not draining well. (particularly possible if the truck is sludged up at all).

I would either clean the plugs well with carb cleaner or replace them and give it another try.