Help, Have you heard of this happening before

[RFTLTS]

Hello, Here's what happened. We were traveling down the road 70 mph and I notice some blue smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. My cousin was driving and he did not notice any big change in power,no bang no nothing. so we pull up at a station and open the hood and there is oil sprayed all over the passenger side of the engine and out under the truck. we hear a pop pop popping and find a piece of metal sticking through the middle of the valve cover. It looks like a push rod but smaller diameter. It is a 99.5 with 140,000 miles. Haven't had a lick of trouble with this truck since I bought it in 03 with 56,000 miles on it. Any thoughts on what could have happened.

Thanks

[kaya@bernhausen]

pull the valve cover off and have a look. i'm sure it'll be quite evident. maybe a piece of rocker arm

[RFTLTS]

To get the Valve Cover off. What special tools if any are needed? I've heard that alot of stuff needs to come off first to get to the Glow Plugs. A link to a PDF of the service Manual would be great. Or a quick list from someone would be a great help. All work will be done outdoors so I don't want to be taking off more than necessary as to not lose to many parts in the grass. Thanks

[ChoctawChuck]

I can't tell you where right off, but i have seen some links to manuals in earlier posts. Do a search and you should find one somewhere in this forum.

[kaya@bernhausen]

super easy on the 7.3.
-disconnect neg batt terminals
-unbolt 3 nuts holding boost sensor to bracket and set boost sensor aside.
-remove CAC tube.
-remove nut holding oil dipstick tube bracket to valve cover stud.
-remove 2 coolant hose brackets. they just lift off the studs.
-set coolant lines aside
-now you should be ready to unbolt the valve cover. i usually like to unscrew the oil filler neck to get it out of way. don't lose the o ring. and make sure when you thread it back in you do it slowly so the o ring seats. make sure it doesn't pinch.
-remove the bolts in whatever way you see fit. 13mm head. there are 2 at the outside, next to the heater box that can be a tight fit. i like to use my flex head ratchet wrench for those
good luck

[RFTLTS]

Thanks for the help. I'll let you know how it goes.

[RFTLTS]

well I would post pics but i cant find the SD card for the camera. Of course the nut for the bracket on the oil stick tube was frozen to the stud. I hope installing the new tube works out better than the last one I did. (chevy SB in 1979). Did international ever put REMAN injectors in new engines? because I have one????. Looks like the Glow plug unscrewed and tried to escape through the valve cover. more later when I get Pics And thanks for the help

[kaya@bernhausen]

you sure the glow plug threads aren't stripped?

[RFTLTS]

It doesn't look like it. What do you think? did I find all the pieces?


Thanks

[kaya@bernhausen]

yea, that looks like all of it