Engine overheated and went up in smoke

[Go big blue]

You have insurance?

I bet they forgot to take the plugs out of the radiator.

I have auto insurance but never heard of it covering repairs. I’m sure the mechanic is going to make it right if it was his fault.

 

[Joe T]

I thought if they damaged the vehicle comprehensive insurance would cover it. ‍

Kinda like water in diesel.

Regardless, glad to hear the mechanic will make it right.

 

[Feistl]

Hey mate,

Sorry to hear and I don't want to rub salt into the wound but it's an important lesson...

If you vehicle starts having issues driving (doesn't matter what they are), STOP!.

What could have been a $50 fix is now going to cost you well over $1000. Would have been more cost effective to have your truck towed and hire a Ferrari for the week rather than "trying to get home".

Not having a go personally, but I see it all the time. Especially annoying when people drive through flood water... unless it was a life or death situation shouldn't have driven it.

Anyway good luck with the repairs. If it's manual now is also a good time to change the clutch.

 

[Go big blue]

PS. Drain your oil NOW! if you have water floating on top of the pan, it will eat the crank bushings quickly...

I would disconnect coil, and while turning over, not starting, dump in another quart, and maybe some Seafoam too...

I had it towed to the shop and there is no one there until Monday. Are the crank bushings easy to replace if they are ruined?

 

[Go big blue]

Hey mate,

Sorry to hear and I don't want to rub salt into the wound but it's an important lesson...

If you vehicle starts having issues driving (doesn't matter what they are), STOP!.

What could have been a $50 fix is now going to cost you well over $1000. Would have been more cost effective to have your truck towed and hire a Ferrari for the week rather than "trying to get home".

Not having a go personally, but I see it all the time. Especially annoying when people drive through flood water... unless it was a life or death situation shouldn't have driven it.

Anyway good luck with the repairs. If it's manual now is also a good time to change the clutch.

Where were you yesterday on my drive home?!?! Yes, lesson learned.

 

[roscoFJ73]

it had previously been cooling down at freeway speeds and only getting hot while sitting or idling.

This is the sign of a blocked radiator or a fan clutch that's worn out.

Are the crank bushings easy to replace if they are ruined?

Do you mean the crank bearings? I doubt they are damaged but it requires a complete strip down of the engine to remove the crank.
Its the top of the engine that gets the hottest and when it overheats thats usually where the damage is.

 

[Mighty690]

PS. Drain your oil NOW! if you have water floating on top of the pan, it will eat the crank bushings quickly...

I would disconnect coil, and while turning over, not starting, dump in another quart, and maybe some Seafoam too...

I've found Marvel Mystery oil to be excellent at picking moisture up after the oil gets a bunch of coolant dumped in there. FWIW.

 

[lcwizard]

Hey mate,




Not having a go personally, but I see it all the time. Especially annoying when people drive through flood water... unless it was a life or death situation shouldn't have driven it.

.

....Now you're just taking all the fun out of life

 

[OSS]

I have an 85 fj60. I just had my radiator replaced and the car overheated and the engine and tailpipe began spewing white smoke. The large hose from the rad to the engine burst. Can’t tell if there is any other damage. How likely is it that I cracked the engine block? Drove it about 1/2 mile with it smoking before I could pull over.

Did the radiator inlet hose actually burst? As in the hose is now destroyed? Or did it just come loose off the fitting?

All the coolant hoses are burst rated to several times the radiator cap release pressure of 16 psi. Even an ancient radiator inlet hose isn't going to burst at a paltry 16 psi. That hose is burly.

Either the cap was faulty and didn't release at 16 psi like it was supposed to - which could blow a hose off a fitting... Or the damn hose clamp wasn't tightened up & the hose blew off the fitting at 16 psi.

Once the coolant was lost during that event, the engine naturally overheated and either the head cracked or the head gasket blew.

 

[Go big blue]

Did the radiator inlet hose actually burst? As in the hose is now destroyed? Or did it just come loose off the fitting?

All the coolant hoses are burst rated to several times the radiator cap release pressure of 16 psi. Even an ancient radiator inlet hose isn't going to burst at a paltry 16 psi. That hose is burly.

Either the cap was faulty and didn't release at 16 psi like it was supposed to - which could blow a hose off a fitting... Or the damn hose clamp wasn't tightened up & the hose blew off the fitting at 16 psi.

Once the coolant was lost during that event, the engine naturally overheated and either the head cracked or the head gasket blew.

The hose burst.

 

[FJ40Jim]

Coulda been a new hose & clamps from Autozone. Chinaman assured me it was just as good as OEM.