Coolant flush then started having engine act up

[splintrcel]

So i flushed my coolant just by filling my truck with water then dumping the dirty water until it was clean but i removed my thermostat and some water did dump out of the opening. I also left the thermostat out when i went to fill with coolant and didnt realize it until coolant started dumping out. Now my truck is running like crap. It wont idle steady and when i press on the gas i get little power. The engine also shakes like crazy at certain times. I am obviously getting a check engine light but i wont know the codes its throwing until tomorrow. Any one have any ideas what the hell is going on?? I am thinking the engine is just wet but it also occurred to me that coolant could just be sitting there on the engine from when i spilled and not evaporating causing issues for the electronics. Please help!!!

 

[Captain Morgan]

If it were me, I would put the thermostat back in, ensure the correct mix of antifreeze and fluid level, clean the engine with with engine cleaner and rinse well.

Do you have a leaf blower? Blow the water off the engine if you think that it affects the operation somehow.

 

[Stoned06]

Any water get on the coils? If they get wet, and don't have a good seal over the spark plug, you can get multiple misses. Let it dry out and/or blow the water out and try again.

 

[toms89]

Agree with Stoned06. Water in the spark plug wells will cause misfire. I washed my motor when I first purchased my expy and the spark plug boots did not seal against water intrusion as they should. I dried out the plug wells and replaced the spark plugs and all was good.

I would be cautious of washing higher milage motors as the plug boots may not seal and it may also create issues with the cops.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Cautious indeed and no disagreement but as the OP stated, he has antifreeze on and around his engine which is caustic to paint and metal. Not to mention poisonous. If it has to dry out a while, so be it.

Plus that thermostat should go back in.

 

[jdan]

Yea water and ford engines = misfire.
Like said above.. Let it dry or pull out all the coils and blow the holes out with air.

 

[Thermo]

Another one thinking that some antifreeze made it into the plug wells and is causing the issues. If you can, remove the front COPs and see if you spot any water down in there. If you need to, get your hands on some paper towels and suck up the water or use some compressed air to blow the antifreeze out.

 

[splintrcel]

Hey guys, thanks for all the help. Sure enough cylinders 5 and 6 threw a code for misfiring and i replaced just the two spark plugs for now and cleaned the coils and the hole where the plugs go. I have 6 more new plugs to install but just didnt have the time. The coolant mixture was fine as well as the thermostat. The problem was def the two cylinders misfiring because now she runs great. Thanks again for bailing me out of my stupidity and messy habits lol.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Sure enough cylinders 5 and 6 threw a code for misfiring and i replaced just the two spark plugs for now and cleaned the coils and the hole where the plugs go.

the spark plug boots did not seal against water intrusion as they should . . . . as the plug boots may not seal and it may also create issues with the cops.

As you are changing the plugs, are you able to do anything to prevent this from happening again?

 

[splintrcel]

You can replace the coil boots but money is lacking for that. I literally poured coolant more or less on those plugs in order to get the misfires. I have sprayed the engine before and have had no problems so it takes a lot to get through those boots. I would say be careful but if your boots are getting old you can swap them out. I just cleaned the coils and the hole really well.

 

[splintrcel]

I am the only one in my family that attempts things like this so i am on my own so i do some stupid things sometimes but i learn my lesson.

 

[tsgrpr97]

Make sure to put dieelectric grease in the boots when u change the plugs. Even with new boots you still have the possibility of the charge leaking between the boot and insulator.

Sent from my LGL55C using Tapatalk 2

 

[Exia]

Coil boots arent that costly like 2 bucks, but to be honest if the boots need replacing i would just spend 65 bucks for a complete set of coils which comes with new boots..

 

[Captain Morgan]

I am the only one in my family that attempts things like this so i am on my own so i do some stupid things sometimes but i learn my lesson.

I doubt anyone thinks it's a stupid thing, $#@! happens and you do the best you can. I've removed the radiator cap too soon on an over-heated engine once and had antifreeze spew all over everything and it left permanent marks and was nasty.

Growing up poor and alone I had to do all my own stuff and on the cheap so I know what it's like.

As mentioned putting some dielectric grease on\in\around the boots will help and should be a standard operating procedure. You don't want moisture to get in any of the connections.


List: Dielectric Grease | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Buy Permatex Dielectric Tune-Up Grease 22058 at Advance Auto Parts

 

[toms89]

As you are changing the plugs, are you able to do anything to prevent this from happening again?

I used dielectric grease as mentioned on the outer portion of the boot where it mates with the heads as well as the typical spark plug to boot area. (This is electrically non-conductive grease) I am hoping this helps to seal out moisture but really dont know how it will hold up long term.

 

[splintrcel]

Damn, i thought the boots were way more. The boots held up to me spraying water on the engine so i think they are fine. Its just when u just pour a ton of liquid on them they begin to leak which i understand. Time is just an issue.