Engine Coolant Leaking?

vinzo · Jan 26, 2025

Hello!

I have a question with my coolant in my 88 fox gt, I am a bit young so please bare with me if i need to know more terms, I have been facing an overheating issue recently and it turns out that it was the clutch fan, I replaced it and it no longer overheats and now she runs at 150 degrees now , but now i realized that my coolant is slowly going away i constantly fill it daily and try not to drive it as much but i need her to go to work, i am always on top of filling it, its not a lot of coolant lost, i fill it about less than 1/4 of a gallon. I haven't noticed any coolant leaks at all. Oil isn't milky, and reserve tank is full. I was told it could be the water pump not circulating and coolant is just vaporizing idk? Or maybe heater core leak. If you guys have any idea i would greatly appreciate it!

gkomo · Jan 26, 2025

If it’s the heater core leaking do you smell a sweet smell inside the cabin?

A good recommendation is adding a dye to the coolant that you can then look for leaks with a black light.

vinzo · Jan 26, 2025

Nope no sweet smells in the cabin. I will go out today and buy some dye!

AeroCoupe · Jan 26, 2025

Heater core will also cause a fog on the inside of the windshield starting at the bottom. If it’s bad enough it will drip out of the AC condensate drip line just below the accumulator / dyer that is on the passenger firewall which is located here so the drip line stick out of the fire wall below it:

LMR video on how to replace the heater core:

Google Image Result for https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6tfcezkPHA8/hqdefault.jpg

Watch the tailpipes on the car as well for white puffs of smoke which typically indicate a head gasket issue. If you or someone you know has a bore scope you can pull the spark plugs and look at the top of the pistons. They should have a little oil and carbon build up on them. If one looks like aluminum then that can indicate water is getting in there.

@gkomo has the plan though with the dye. You can also borrow / rent a pressure tester for the radiator and that can help with finding the leak.

Noobz347 · Jan 26, 2025

I will bet that those guys are right.

I see you're in Mass... Is the Mustang your daily?

vinzo · Jan 26, 2025

Noobz347 said:
I will bet that those guys are right.

I see you're in Mass... Is the Mustang your daily?

Yep Mustang is my daily.

vinzo · Jan 26, 2025

AeroCoupe said:
Heater core will also cause a fog on the inside of the windshield starting at the bottom. If it’s bad enough it will drip out of the AC condensate drip line just below the accumulator / dyer that is on the passenger firewall which is located here so the drip line stick out of the fire wall below it:

LMR video on how to replace the heater core:

Google Image Result for https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6tfcezkPHA8/hqdefault.jpg

Watch the tailpipes on the car as well for white puffs of smoke which typically indicate a head gasket issue. If you or someone you know has a bore scope you can pull the spark plugs and look at the top of the pistons. They should have a little oil and carbon build up on them. If one looks like aluminum then that can indicate water is getting in there.

@gkomo has the plan though with the dye. You can also borrow / rent a pressure tester for the radiator and that can help with finding the leak.

No Fog, asked a couple of other people today if they could smell a sweet smell with heat and they said no. As for the tailpipes and white puffing smoke I can’t really since of how cold it is over here in mass constantly puffing out smoke regardless, maybe I can try dollar bill or something. Definitely going to do a dye first then look into the other options. I appreciate all of you

2000xp8 · Jan 26, 2025

Do you smell burn coolant under the hood? If it drips on the intake or engine, it will burn off.
I used to find most leaks by pressurizing the system with a pressure kit.

Engine Coolant Leaking?

vinzo

Member

gkomo

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

vinzo

Member

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

vinzo

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vinzo

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2000xp8

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Engine Coolant Leaking?

Member

now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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