The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Coolant in crankcase

OK, I will try to make this brief.
I just went through 40 pages similar to my query, plus the the ones that I looked at. That made me worry more!

I was told when I bought this truck it had a blown head gasket, you could see it leaking. No problem, I've done it before. LSS, I got a good radiator and gasket set, but didn't have a chance to get to it before the weather started to get cold, so I took off the thermostat housing and dumped a gal. of antifreeze, just to be safe. The next thing I know there is coolant dripping out of the pan. (I did get a pan gasket with the others.) Would that much coolant get by the gasket that fast or does this sound like a cracked block? I guess a pressure test is in my future, I may need a little help there.

So before I start tearing down, what I believe to be a 216 on my 48 2 ton, I thought I would run this by you.
Edit: I stand corrected, after further investigation by casting #, it is in fact a 235ci. I believe the gaskets are the same,no? I hope.

Ran good on and off the trailer.
Side note; the muffler was split at the seams, explosively. No explanation from previous owner.

Please advise,
Thanks,
D.

I'm confused as to why you removed the thermostat housing to add coolant. So exactly where is the coolant coming out at? As for the muffler, a buildup of gas in the muffler can explode a muffler. I wouldn't consider it related to coolant in the crank case.

I guess I should have said top of housing and thermostat. So I could pour in coolant, rad. is still out to change out head gasket.
Don't know how the coolant is getting in the crankcase, but it is leaking out the pan gasket.
The muffler, I was just thinking the head gasket... the valves... the mix of intake/exhaust... BAMM... major backfire.

Feeling better about cracked block after talking to mac. friend tonight, he said, yeah coolant can pass directly from cooling jacket into oil return at gasket area.

Thoughts?,
D.

with a bad head gasket, coolant could get in the pan fast from various routes, including down all the cylinders, so the walls are washed down to rust the rings over the winter, would be better to drain the engine rather than try to fill it with antifreeze .... and after you've done that - and drained the pan so the bottom end isn't sitting in water - pull the plugs and shoot a bunch of lube in, or get the head off and oil the cylinders

Bill