Sad Newbie: Creeping Sludge

[Russig]

Long story short: Been an IDI fan from way back, and an E-Class driver forever (work); when my F250 had to go away, picked up a '92 E350 w/7.3 IDI natural. Sadly, the van and my excellent mechanic were far apart.

Van's quite solid; engine runs well, but has crud coming from the #4 cylinder-head/block area. Yep, my mechanic sez: head gasket.

Already my fave vehicle I've ever owned, and I'm not young!

Suggestions, as I'm not ready to plunk down 6?7?8?$K for Ford or Jasper reman? Am not feeling good about used; lots of retired early-90's U-Haul Es being sold off around here!

[FordGuy100]

If you got us a picture it would help a lot. Is this coming from between the block and the head? Are you sure its not just the valve cover gasket leaking causing it to drip down?

[Russig]

Thank you, FordGuy100. Nice looking truck, BTW.

This pic shows the area at back of block at #4. The head line is hard to miss.

Mechanic poured in a gray metallic solution to try to temporarily slow the leak; doesn't look like it was effective. A friend told me about a product called Blue Devil. Anyone have any experience with that, as I am nearing that last-ditch-effort point?

A local search for a used engine turned up only a truck version, condition listed as "runs and smokes," for $400. Definitely pass on all counts!

Looks like there aren't many van 7.3 IDIs still out there. I understand that the oil cooler, fuel filter mounts and such are different between the truck and van versions.

[FordGuy100]

Yeah there are some things mounted a little different. Remember that you can always take those parts off and put them onto a truck version IDI, so that it will work.

[Russig]

Good to know that I can switch over; thank you for that, Justin. Have stumbled onto car-part.com, which is showing a number of engines here on the west coast. Time for some careful shopping in the coming months, along with some study of what needs to be changed over with a truck engine..