Dissapearing Coolant = Head Gasket?

90mustangGT

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#1

• Sep 20, 2004

• #1

My car has been drinking water. Not leaking externally, not in the oil, I checked that out. I fill the jug, about half a gallon, maby a little less and after a night of cruising it's all gone. It keeps getting worse. The engine is kind of getting a miss to it recently, just not running right. What are my chances of a blown head gasket? Maby I shouldn't have re-used the old head bolts, Thumper warned me but I was broke. Can anyone recomend a good head gasket? I used stock replacments fel-pro last time.

 

HISSIN50

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#2

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• #2

im trying to think of something simple - how is the rad cap? im guessing you run more water than coolant. if the system is not holding pressure, you could be boiling off some water......
that is the only easy thing i can think of that is easy to check/replace.

good luck Jason......

 

90mustangGT

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#3

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• #3

HISSIN50 said:

im trying to think of something simple - how is the rad cap? im guessing you run more water than coolant. if the system is not holding pressure, you could be boiling off some water......
that is the only easy thing i can think of that is easy to check/replace.

good luck Jason......

Click to expand...

Didn't think of that, you might have nailed it. I'm running stright water with Redline Water Wetter and Prestone Antirust. Althought it did this even when I had a 50/50 mixture, but it is getting much worse progressivley.

 

HISSIN50

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#4

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trying to think of other stuff:
i think one can rent (or maybe your shop has) a system pressure-tester. or try some dye in the system (again maybe the shop has something that can be tried).
that is all i can think of for now.

good luck bud.

 

90mustangGT

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#5

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HISSIN50 said:

i think one can rent (or maybe your shop has one) and system pressure tester. or try some dye in the system.

good luck bud.

Click to expand...

That was the first thing I did, I have to say I was dissapointed when nothing happened. Thanks JT.

 

nito88stang

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#6

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• #6

The Ford Graphite head gasket gets good reviews and is pretty cheap from www.50resto.com

 

Rick 91GT

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#7

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• #7

If it makes you feel any better I had disappearing water one time, never found anything wrong but it sure did bug the hell out of me.

I figured the straight distilled water and anti rust was boiling/disapating a little and put it to rest.

Best way to find a HG leak is to do a leakdown and compression test. JEGS sells a nice FMS graphite gasket kit for $85 comes with almost everygasket you'll need.

 

jrichker

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#8

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If you have compressed air available & want to build your on leakdown compression tester, see http://jrichker.stangnet.com/Mustan...ession_tester/Blow_down_comprssion_tester.htm

 

r6bullet

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#9

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I agree with the compression test, that will tell you. And if you have low compression on cylinders that are right next to each other than that is the HG.

 

90mustangGT

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I will do that tomorow.

 

5spd GT

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#11

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If you really don't have an external leak or its not in the oil...evaporation is the only option I see?

Take it to the track and see if it isn't running right or it is just your mind...I know I start noticeing something and I swear everything is wrong and try to relate it to everything...lol...

 

ninjacoupe

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#12

• Sep 20, 2004

• #12

Losing coolant into a cylinder usually results in a really wet exhaust.White smoke? leaving puddles under the exhaust tips at all. Dry rev the engine and have a freind put his hand by the exhaust.
Good news is that its not in the oil.

 

95CobraMike

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#13

• Oct 13, 2004

• #13

i am having the same problem now....there is some white smoke out of my driver side exhaust, and a tiny bit out of my passenger side...help please????

 

IndyBlk5.0

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#14

• Oct 13, 2004

• #14

r6bullet said:

I agree with the compression test, that will tell you. And if you have low compression on cylinders that are right next to each other than that is the HG.

Click to expand...

Not true. My car had a perfect head gasket. 7 binded a ring, and 8 smacked a valve on the piston .... So it looked like a blown head gasket, but in fact it wasnt. Also, the rings were bad on 8 too.
Just playing devil's advocate