Engine Probs

[k5freak44]

Hey guys, im running a 350 TBI engine in my 91 and i have been having some problems with the recently. Its got 103,000 on the clock and it has ran strong until a couple of moths ago.

I started noticeing A big puff of white smoke on startup ONLY. It dosent smoke after the engine is warm.

Coolant in the resavour is dirty and very low.

When i have my rear window down and im crusing at about 45 there is a real bad smell that is sucked up into the cab. Im guessing its coolant burning because it smells sweet. But it is not smoking when i smell this.

Also when my engine starts up sometimes it stubles and it isint uncommon for it do stubmle and die when i put it into gear.

Also starting yesterday, after i start my truck up and start driving, the power suts off for a second but it dosent stall. Just my radio turns off when the engine kinda stumbles.


What am i up against here. I have been told i probably have a bad head gasket, but i figure i would get an opinion from the pros.

Thanks
-Jonathan

 

[85mudblazin]

Its broke

 

[88sub4x4]

Sounds like a coolant ingestion (sp?) issue to me, but further diagnosis is needed before blaming a head gasket or head. Intake leaks could also produce coolant injestion.
If you run the engine with the radiator cap off you may be able to see a steady flow of air coming out the radiator. This would eliminate an intake coolant leak, and generally means a head or head gasket issue.