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2002 4.3 vortec water in oil. what next?

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2002 4.3 vortec water in oil. what next?

  #11  
Old 04-20-2014, 03:34 PM
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sorry don't know why it saved as private. Should work now.


I went to drain the coolant and noticed a freeze pug is missing. Guess no need to drain coolant. Radiator was empty as well.


I could not get the coolant drain bolts loose for anything.




Can I run it for a few minutes to do the block test without coolant?
 
  #12  
Old 04-20-2014, 04:32 PM
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I just saw the oil....ouch!!! I would not attempt repairs then.... bottom end bearings MUST have been eaten away some.

You can try to run it, but you need oil -even if cheapy crap, and fill coolant system with water only...
**EDIT just saw this....
Originally Posted by Judd View Post
Then put new oil in and fill radiator with water. pressure test cooling system and use the block tester with liquid.
yes you can run with just plain water is fine, but continue reading....

In your shoes, I would just not put any other time into that engine - when it's THAT bad. Used engine from a yard would be the route I'd take.... a reputable yard and has some type of warranty or came from running vehicle

+1^ on the video by the way, exactly what I needed
 

Last edited by cubawashere; 04-20-2014 at 04:45 PM.
  #13  
Old 04-20-2014, 06:11 PM
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cant do coolant pressure test. missing freeze plug so I replaced. started filling radiator and theres a leak at the water pump. seems like theres some hole by the pulley shaft and water is coming from there. so that test is no good.


Block test should tell me if the head gasket is good or bad right? If I have no gases in radiator then gasket, head etc should be good? Then it would just be replacing intake gasket?


Triied to do block test but could not start. battery dead. I had it on charge all night but auto zone said it was good so I left it there to charge. see what happens


bearings? what are we talking about failure right away? 3 months later? 6 months later? I know its probably hard to say but wild guess?






so what I am looking at is replace intake gasket and risk a failing engine or just swap engines?
 
  #14  
Old 04-20-2014, 06:36 PM
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Probably right away in this case.... you have no idea how long mixing issue has been there, but by the amount of mixing it's more likely than not repairable & completely done.

Don't waste your time even doing intake to try.... I'm trying to keep you from spending & wasting time, money or wasting parts.

That hole where the coolant is coming out of, is known as the Weep Hole. It is a warning for when the pump is failing, to go and replace it. It will "weep" coolant when inner bearings/seals start failing.
My theory is that the previous owner ignored this sign, kept driving it...it overheated, who knows how many times, blew out the headgaskets, and possibly blew out the freeze out plug. THIS IS NOT WORTH FIXING...lol I can't stress that enough.
 

Last edited by cubawashere; 04-20-2014 at 06:41 PM.
  #15  
Old 04-20-2014, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Judd View Post
cant do coolant pressure test. missing freeze plug so I replaced. started filling radiator and theres a leak at the water pump. seems like theres some hole by the pulley shaft and water is coming from there. so that test is no good.
The tester did it's job...showed you where some of the issues are.... think of a balloon. Cooling system is exactly the same. ANY holes and it won't work (balloon doesn't fill). At very least you learned how to use it...
 
  #16  
Old 04-20-2014, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by cubawashere View Post
The tester did it's job...showed you where some of the issues are.... think of a balloon. Cooling system is exactly the same. ANY holes and it won't work (balloon doesn't fill). At very least you learned how to use it...
Oh no I never put it on. I found the missing freeze plug when trying to remove the block drain plugs...

pftt.. great. So... how hard to do an engine swap? Obviously I don't have AC tools so I'll have to have someone else do that. Maybe I should just put it back on craigslist
 
  #17  
Old 04-20-2014, 07:29 PM
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You would have had same issue with A/C had you done head gaskets... but most of the time you don't have to open that system. Just unbolt compressor and bungee cord it off to the side...same is with P/S pump.

There are 2 huge brackets on either side of the front of the engine which holds the alternator, P/S pump on one side, and the A/C compressor and tesioner or whatever else.

Any local shops willing to do a cheap swap?... some shops around here may do them for 500 or 600 or less plus engine and parts...just to get it running and then flip it/sell it. It's worth more running...
 
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