smallfry Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 3.9 V8. Took the exhaust manifolds off. Port on number 6 is VERY clean, but all the others are sooty. Does it mean................................the usual big bore unhappiness ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Could do, pull the plug and see if it is clean as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 Yep. it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Fingers crossed it could well be just a head gasket, time to get the head off if you want it sorted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash.Witty Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Would very much doubt its the head gasket, usually its only cyl. 1,2,7,8 to be affected as they are next to the water passages at the end of the block. Something happened to my mates 3.9 this week, lost all water and he couldn't work out why it wouldn't crank over. I pulled the plugs out and cyl, 1+2 were full to the brim of water. I'd suspect either a cracked head or block problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 Something happened to my mates 3.9 this week, lost all water and he couldn't work out why it wouldn't crank over. I pulled the plugs out and cyl, 1+2 were full to the brim of water. I'd suspect either a cracked head or block problems. 1 AND 2 ? At the same time ? Thats really odd.............................Maybe he allowed the coolant to get low ? Is head cracking also a problem nowadays then ? Thought it was only the liners/blocks on the big bore engines. I have a lot of experience with the 3.5s before I gave it all up a long time ago, so this is new to me.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash.Witty Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 I was surprised to see two cylinders full, cylinder 2 was full to the brim and pouring out when the plug was removed, prior to that it was running sweet. I've run a 4.2 and two 4.6's with not a single problem, unfortunately my dad's p38 started losing water and once we took the heads off it was apparent 3 cylinders had been steam cleaned.... Ended up doing a rebuild with a top hat block which is working a treat. Not sure about the 3.9v8's but there are plenty of cheap second hand engines on eBay etc. if it is knackard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 I thought 3.9's were supposed to be less prone than the 4.0/4.6's. Mind you, if I believed everything on the internet my 4.6 should have exploded and flattened a kitten sanctuary years ago, yet it continues to be fine, like the 3.9 before it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 3.9s are rare in terms of liner slip and porus / bypass etc but not unknown. Can also be the headgasket has gone so badly its carved a channel in the alley for the water to trott trhough and it gets worse v fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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