Possible blown head gasket or a piston ring

Tiny
ROBERT LEE2
  • MEMBER
  • 1985 FORD RANGER
  • 2.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 984,733 MILES
Giant cloud after motor sounded like one side would released compression two seconds before the other side did. It was like that for maybe one minute before it made a couple loud claps and shut off and shot a ball of smoke the side of a small travel trailer. Oil sprayed down the end of my drive line and coated a good amount of the rear axle. Also did a seriously needed oil change after not being done for about two times the mile it is recommended for.
Sunday, February 10th, 2019 AT 12:33 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

What color was the smoke?

The fact that you have oil covered all over tells me you have some kind of severe leak.

Does it still run?

Roy
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Sunday, February 10th, 2019 AT 2:30 AM
Tiny
ROBERT LEE4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I couldn't tell the color due to the snow and it was dark. But I tried to jump start it this morning and it didn't seem to even turn over. I thought it was because of snow but even with it in 4x4 still wouldn't turn over.
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Sunday, February 10th, 2019 AT 11:20 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
I would start by either having the battery charged or replaced.

Jumping a battery in cold weather does not work on a bad battery.

Roy
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 3:17 AM
Tiny
ROBERT LEE4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Then why would it have made the double clack noise blowing smoke and oil at the exhaust as thick as it did? It is a thick layer of oil coating my axle and drive-line and asked where it was dripping off my pumpkin. I know for sure the battery was charged and my alternator works 100%. And it's a manual I'm pulling it. Should have done the trick with or without the battery?
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 6:28 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
Your initial description sounds like the engine threw a rod. I would start by seeing if you can turn the engine over in either direction by hand. If you had just finished the oil change it is possible that it moved some sludge or other contaminant into an oil passage and blocked it long enough to cause damage.
The other issue that could be related, if you changed the oil and accidentally left the o-ring from the old filter stuck to the block and installed the new filter it could spray oil out and the the lack of oil would cause it to lock up as it lost oil pressure.
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 6:38 AM
Tiny
ROBERT LEE4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
That's a good place to start. It had normal oil pressure up until it started sounding weird and there is still oil on the dipstick.
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Keep us updated.

Roy
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 7:22 AM
Tiny
ROBERT LEE4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Well, I turned it by hand it only does half a rotation either way and I heard three things drop into the oil pan and when I went to drain oil to pull pan half the liquid was coolant the the oil.
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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The motor has expired.

You need a replacement motor.

Roy
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 12:24 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
Sorry to hear that, but it would explain why it doesn't start. Sounds like a rod decided it wanted out. If the body and the rest of the truck are still good a replacement engine might be an idea. If the rest is getting really tired then a replacement vehicle might be a better option.
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Monday, February 11th, 2019 AT 1:38 PM

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