Do I have a cracked engine head?

CARPROB

MEMBER
FORD MUSTANG

I drive a '95 Ford Mustang V6, 3.8L with 114, 00mi. On it, recently my waterpump cracked and I'm getting that fixed this week, but I'm wondering if I have a bigger problem on my hands. My car last night started exhausting white smoke, most likely steam from the cracked water pump. My engine oil is nice and black so no coolant is getting in there but, do I have a cracked head?
Thx.

2 Replies

CATCH_15

MECHANIC
250 POSTS

If you had a cracked head, the coolant and oil would probably be mixed together. They 3.8s had a lot of problems with the head gaskets. If you're not for sure, take the heads off and have a machine shop run a pressure test on the heads and go ahead and replace the head gaskets.

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Tuesday, November 14th, 2006 AT 6:43 PM

COSMO

MECHANIC
347 POSTS

I would agree that it sounds like you may have cooked one of your head gasket's if you are getting white smoke from time to time.

Try looking for air bubbles in your rad or overflow tank white the engine is running. This is another good (or bad sign) that your head gasket might get done.

Don't add STOP leak to your motor. Get your heads removed and checked if required and replace the head gaskets.

Cosmo. Mazda TEch

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Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 AT 6:57 PM