I bought a 1993 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 from my neighbor for 800.00. She said she took it to a mechanic and they told her the head gaskets are blown and they would give her 500.00 for it. I replaced the fuel pump & battery, started it and it runs great. The temp gauge doesn't go over half way, there's no steam out of the tail pipe, the water level in the radiator doesn't drop. Is it possible they may have put water in the oil to make her think the head gaskets are bad ? I ran it and drove it for 2 hours and nothing. I heard Ford had some problems back in the day with intake manifold gaskets cracking and giving a miss diagnosis of a bad head gasket . We going to try and do and engine flush and an oil change to see if that works. I would appreciate any input. Thanks
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Don't know anything about Potwin KS. but I doubt the shop put water in the oil just to try and buy a 1993 Ford Explorer!! Have a combustion leak test performed, that will confirm head gasket problem or not.
Is the oil a milky white? Is it condensation from temperature change? If the vehicle wasn't driven long enough too reach full operating temperature for very long may not purge out moisture, same if vehicle isn't driven enough. Yes, change the oil (I don't think a flush is needed)and watch. If you see beads of moisture on the dipstick and white smoke from the exhaust of a warm engine, then you most likely got a head gasket problem. I agree with pushrod if your not sure.
But shouldn't there be steam coming out of the tail pipe, or overheating or running like crap ?
Keep driving it. You'll find the problem quick enough.
True enough big J.true enough!