I should have listened to myself!?!@?!?

[ubtripn]

So as some may know, I was leaking oil out of an intake bolt on my 68's 350. I was pulling each bolt out and applying high temp Permutex when one twisted off. I started it up and it didn't leak oil and it didn't mix any oil with the antifeeze or vice versa so I thought - I should just drive it and watch it closely. The prevaling opinion though was that I should tear it apart, remove the stud and install new gaskets because if I don't the intake manifold could eventually warp or worse I could lose the engine. So I finally decided to do it and took my time over the past couple of days doing the work. Everything went SO SMOOTH. This morning I finished the work and started the truck to let it warm up so I could re-torque the bolts, etc.. I am in the garage 10 feet away as it idles and got a little side tracked cleaning my tools, when I walked back out there was anti-freeze everywhere. A hose blew off and I didn't hear it. When I first started it, I inspected it closely and all was well but it must have blew right when I stepped into the garage where the stereo was on. Anyway, I shut it down right away and let it cool then refilled the radiator, started it up and hooray!!!! - Oil in the radiator that looks like coffee mixed with milk!!! I am so angry right now, I cooked the engine and it is my fault, it's just that if I had let it be I would have a running truck right now. It is all my fault - I didn't fully seat the hose apparently. I am tossing the entire engine and putting a new one in after I save up the money. I just knew something was going to happen but didn't trust my gut. Don't you hate it when that happens.

Oh well, I want to thank everybody for the help they have given me along the way. Just one more - "had to learn the hard way" lesson for me.

[71meangreenc10]

Hard lesson to learn.....
Hope you get it back running....

Smitty

[haysonj]

I wouldn't be so quick to throw in the towel as it could just be a blown gasket or something simple. I had water in my oil and all I did was re torque the heads and change the oil and all was good. Do some investigating first.

[Tkmadone]

You did the right thing by fixing a known problem. The subsequent issue was a mistake anyone could have made. If you hadn't fixed the broken bolt it could have stranded you somewhere awful or something else may have happened. It does no good to second guess things like that. Chalk it up to a tough lesson and keep doing it the right way and eventually it will work out just fine.

[ubtripn]

Thanks guys, your right and I have cooled down a bit now. I am hoping it just damaged the head gasket. If so I will just go back in and fix it.

[pat 70/71]

sorry to here that happened to yah. some of the best lessons in life are reinforced by physical pain or financial hardship. My dad used to tell me that all the time when I was just a little nipper. I'm sure you will be happy in the long run. cheers, Pat

[OrrieG]

Took me a while to learn that lesson too, youthful impatience. I now have the sign in the shop "If you don't have time to do it right, where are you going to get the time to do it over?" were I can see it all the time. Be glad it did not happen at 75 mph and hydro locked the engine or worse.

[ubtripn]

See that's the thing though, I took my time and focused on doing everything right, I just didn't push the bottom hose far enough and cannot figure out how I missed it. Oh well, I will never miss it again =)

[Sammy]

Fix what caused the oil n antifreeze problem. Drain that oil with some of the cheapest oil you can get at the store. Refill everything give it another chance let it run for an hour or two if the oil n water don't mix. Drain the oil, change drain the filter and take a chance keeping an eye on the oil pressure and water. Drive it that way for a week and if it's good you have saved a engine change. You might get by without any further problems. All depends on the amount and how much water got in the pan.

[ubtripn]

Thanks friend, I am going to do just that.

[70STOVEBOLT]

What does the oil in the pan look like? Was there only oil in the water, or both ways? If the oil in pan looks the same as the water in the radiator, I would not run it, you will only do more damage. It doesn't take much antifreeze in the oil to cause a spun bearing. As it is now, the engine may be able to be saved by replacing the head gaskets, but if you spin a bearing, it will be time for another engine or a major overhaul on that one. Just my $.02

[ubtripn]

Thx for the advice, I drained the oil and it looks clean. There was only a bit of film by the rad cap when I found it, since then I flushed the anti-freeze and cannot see any more oil.

[ubtripn]

I think I am going to put in new oil and filter along with some new anti-freeze and see if it recontaminates.

[70STOVEBOLT]

It should be fine, just keep an eye on the oil pressure and the water temperature when you run it.

[ubtripn]

Will do, thanks.