The Ford Barn

McCoart · 11-19-2023, 11:37 AM

Good Morning. Started my father's Model A and let it run for a couple minutes and saw from the exhaust the white smoke that led me to believe a head gasket problem Turned it off and noticed some leaks of antifreeze coming from one of the middle bolts off the head.. Not much of a leak and started it up again and same exhaust discharge but not much of a leak from bolt. Do you guys or gals think I have a blown head gasket? Thank you. Tom

AL in NY · 11-19-2023, 11:54 AM

Yes

ronn · 11-19-2023, 02:50 PM

spend the money for a real decent gasket.

makes a difference

Marshall V. Daut · 11-19-2023, 03:52 PM

Retorque the cylinder head nuts to 55-60 ft.-lbs. before panicking.
Marshall

Big hammer · 11-19-2023, 04:48 PM

Don’t panic for sure ! one of my SIL’s after buying used cars would say I think the head gasket is blown, I would ask why do you think that, is starting to run rough ? Retorque the head, with it warmed check and see if you have bubbles in the radiator, do a leak down test , the white smoke does it smell like antifreeze, pull the spark plugs and see if one or more piston tops are cleaner than the others

McCoart · 11-19-2023, 05:30 PM

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I will. Thank you.

McCoart · 11-19-2023, 06:00 PM

Thank you very much everyone. I'll start by retorqueing the nuts and go from there. I will update how it turns out.. Tom

gdmn852 · 11-19-2023, 06:29 PM

Hello, run a compression check too may help to find leaking cylinder. At least on a Model A, changing head gasket is fairly straight forward, may want to check for flatness of head to block also .

1crosscut · 11-19-2023, 06:40 PM

Tom,

When you retorque your head stud nuts start the process with your torque wrench set to 35 lbs. Then go to 45 lbs. and finally to 55 lbs. Resist the urge to go higher.

Doing it this way will give you a good idea as to the where the torque was on your head at the start of this. If you find they are all at 55 lbs. from the get go then the head gasket is most likely going to need to be replaced. If not then there is a chance that torqueing the head will solve your troubles.

11-19-2023, 11:37 AM	#1
McCoart Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 3	1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Good Morning. Started my father's Model A and let it run for a couple minutes and saw from the exhaust the white smoke that led me to believe a head gasket problem Turned it off and noticed some leaks of antifreeze coming from one of the middle bolts off the head.. Not much of a leak and started it up again and same exhaust discharge but not much of a leak from bolt. Do you guys or gals think I have a blown head gasket? Thank you. Tom

11-19-2023, 11:54 AM	#2
AL in NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Upstate New York Posts: 1,160	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Yes __________________ AL in NY

11-19-2023, 02:50 PM	#3
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,791	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust spend the money for a real decent gasket. makes a difference

11-19-2023, 03:52 PM	#4
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Retorque the cylinder head nuts to 55-60 ft.-lbs. before panicking. Marshall

11-19-2023, 04:48 PM	#5
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Don’t panic for sure ! one of my SIL’s after buying used cars would say I think the head gasket is blown, I would ask why do you think that, is starting to run rough ? Retorque the head, with it warmed check and see if you have bubbles in the radiator, do a leak down test , the white smoke does it smell like antifreeze, pull the spark plugs and see if one or more piston tops are cleaner than the others __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

11-19-2023, 05:30 PM	#6
McCoart Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 3	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I will. Thank you.

11-19-2023, 06:00 PM	#7
McCoart Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 3	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Thank you very much everyone. I'll start by retorqueing the nuts and go from there. I will update how it turns out.. Tom

11-19-2023, 06:29 PM	#8
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 689	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Hello, run a compression check too may help to find leaking cylinder. At least on a Model A, changing head gasket is fairly straight forward, may want to check for flatness of head to block also .

11-19-2023, 06:40 PM	#9
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,909	Re: 1930 Cabriolet blowing white smoke from exhaust Tom, When you retorque your head stud nuts start the process with your torque wrench set to 35 lbs. Then go to 45 lbs. and finally to 55 lbs. Resist the urge to go higher. Doing it this way will give you a good idea as to the where the torque was on your head at the start of this. If you find they are all at 55 lbs. from the get go then the head gasket is most likely going to need to be replaced. If not then there is a chance that torqueing the head will solve your troubles. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska