Engine swap issue with coolant leak

[dbole]

Ok, heres where I am at. I put the engine in 2 weeks ago and filled it with fluids, no leaks. When I replaced the wiring harness last night I noticed the radiator leak from the back of the engine and assumed it was a loose hose. Tonight, I started it up and white smoke came out of the exhaust and I could not find a leak anywhere. I let it run for about 5-10 minutes and the engine never got hot, but there was the odor of coolant coming out of the vents in the cab. I topped off the radiator fluid and letting it sit tonight and see what it does when I come home from work tomorrow. Could it be the HG, even though it sat for a year with fluids in it? OR as my mechanic says, replace the air intake gaskets since I had taken it off to do the wiring harness replacemtn, and they did look worn out.. I am hoping for the best but fear the worst. What is your experience in this and what are your thoughts?

 

[DC runner]

Umm. Well, the cooling system is a "closed" system. When it is operating normally, there is not access except to the cap and overflow reservoir. A busted intake gasket wouldn't magically make coolant disappear and white smoke appear.


White smoke and loss of coolant, plus the smell of coolant, are all pretty big signs that you have coolant in the combustion cycle. That is usually, but not always, the product of a bad head gasket. Pull your plugs. Look for one that looks "steam" cleaned. Normal plugs should have a dingy look from the engine.


Edit: Did you straight pull the engine? As in no maintenance to it? If the engine is not warming up, that usually means your thermostat is stuck open. It can happen. Thermostats can freeze. I would suggest pulling it and checking.


Next. Leak in the back, smell in cabin. You probably have a leak either IN or NEAR the heater core. Check the connections at the firewall of your truck where the hose runs from the engine block to the plumbing of the truck. You may need to check the internal plumbing of the truck. Change the heat settings from between RECIRC and OUTSIDE. If the smell is ONLY present during 1, then you can further locate it. If it smells on RECIRC, then it is probably internal leaking at the heater core or connections. If it is present on OUTSIDE, then it could be leaking coolant burning off on the engine block, the smell being brought in by the fan.

Hope that helps.

 

[dbole]

Will check those all out tomorrow. Before I swapped the good engine in the truck, It sat for a year with all the fluids in it and before that it had a timing belt and water pump replacement and the thermostat.