400 Diesel - water out the exhaust

[Ken Gardner]

I have a 400 Diesel that when you first start it, after it has sat for an hour or two it will blow a little water out of the exhaust for a second, it does not seem to do it after it is running. I have to tear it apart but was wondering if the head is cracked or if it would be just a gasket.
Ben
 

[olgentdc]

head gasket , If You are lucky , you might try a block sealer or bars leak . is oil milky ???...,if you can pull injectors and do a individual compression test ,that knowledge will be helpful ,.... stitch in time will save nine... get the antifreeze out of that motor and replace with water only ..
 

[Ken Gardner]

Thanks I will try the block sealer,there's no water in the oil, and it almost seems like once the tractor is running the compression stops the leaking because you don't smell burning antifreeze and there is no white smoke or steam coming out of the exhaust and there are no bubbles in the rad.
 

[JGarner]

Ken, just a little water, clear water, blowing out especially on a cold morning is normal for any engine internal combustion engine. Ever notice how your pick up or car will drip a bit of moisture out of the tail pipe on a cold morning. The exhaust gas contains the same humidity that the intake air contains as the water does not burn in the cylinders.

When this warm moist air hits the cold muffler you get a slight bit of condensation, not much and it will be clean water, no antifreeze smell or looks. Sounds like what you may be experiencing here, but check the other things also. I would trust Jim H's experience he's been running 'em for a good while.

Just hope its condensation moisture since it is first thing after startup and goes away when the muffler gets hot. Do you notice this worse on cold mornings or is it all the time regardless of ambient temp? Down on the sunny TX coast and else where it only happens to us on cool and cold mornings. When the air temp. is warm, 80-90, the condensation doesn't happen as the muffler is already above the dew point temperature.

Jim G.
 

[scott mcintosh]

Could be cracked flange on sleeve.Scott
 

[haroldWa.]

Fill it completely full of coolant take off the radiator cap and start the engine blown head gasket sleeve seal or cracked head you should see alot of bubbles in radiator
 

[Ken Gardner]

I filled the rad with water and watched the compression or bubbles and water pour out after i started it, oh well i guess i will have to get it in my garage next week and pull the heads off, while im going that far im thinking about bearings and rings, maybe sleeves and pistons, i will let you guys know how its going after i get the heads off.