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progress · 01-06-2003, 02:13 AM

Mine in a 1989 3.0 V-6 (3VE). I had the warranty head gasket fix about 7 or 8 years ago whenever they sent the notice. I bought it new from the dealer and have changed the oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months whatever comes first. It is still tight and runs great. I checked under the valve cover and there is no emulstion there. It was only in the fill cap and the breather tube to the air intake. I checked the right side recently when I replaced the PCV valve and there was none there.

The problem was not there 3 months ago and was not there even a month ago when I added a little oil. It just started recently when I noticed the radiator was low...just below the core but it only took about a quart to fill it. I filled the expansion tank too. That was last weekend. This weekend when I changed the oil I noticed the expansion tank was down about a pint or so. The crankcase oil is fine and the is no emulsion under the valve cover either...just the cap and the 1/2 inch breather hose.

I wonder if it might be a cracked head instead of a head gasket. It never got hot...the water was just a little low in the rad. This caused the sensor to misbehave and send a funky signal to the computer so it was idling funny. That went on for about a week until I found the low water in the rad. I will let it sit for now I guess...maybe only short trips 1 mile or so. I would hate to lunch the top end.

01-06-2003, 02:13 AM	#11
progress Gotta luv a clean shave Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 226	progress=stllookn...on another computer Mine in a 1989 3.0 V-6 (3VE). I had the warranty head gasket fix about 7 or 8 years ago whenever they sent the notice. I bought it new from the dealer and have changed the oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months whatever comes first. It is still tight and runs great. I checked under the valve cover and there is no emulstion there. It was only in the fill cap and the breather tube to the air intake. I checked the right side recently when I replaced the PCV valve and there was none there. The problem was not there 3 months ago and was not there even a month ago when I added a little oil. It just started recently when I noticed the radiator was low...just below the core but it only took about a quart to fill it. I filled the expansion tank too. That was last weekend. This weekend when I changed the oil I noticed the expansion tank was down about a pint or so. The crankcase oil is fine and the is no emulsion under the valve cover either...just the cap and the 1/2 inch breather hose. I wonder if it might be a cracked head instead of a head gasket. It never got hot...the water was just a little low in the rad. This caused the sensor to misbehave and send a funky signal to the computer so it was idling funny. That went on for about a week until I found the low water in the rad. I will let it sit for now I guess...maybe only short trips 1 mile or so. I would hate to lunch the top end. __________________ Welding while you wait...you can help if you like and it...might even save you a little as long as you don't mess things up! We make house calls too...just like the old days!