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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

losing coolant, headgasket?

  • Thread starter Thread starter blownlxvert
  • Start date Start date Jul 31, 2006

blownlxvert

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
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endicott n.y.
Jul 31, 2006
#1
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #1
the motor only has about 5k on it, and every once in a while the level is low in the radiator. if you run the car all day or weekend the overflow will seem to fill and then push out and i will have a little puddle in the battery tray. it doesnt cycle back to the rad. for some reason. i had a buddy drive the car while i followed and he was getting all over it and its not smoking at all. is this normal, are there a ton of air pockets in the system, is there something pushing the coolant out? btw the car never runs above 190.
 

Victor's GT

Member
Jul 24, 2006
44
2
7
New Jersey
Jul 31, 2006
#2
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #2
Could be a blown h/g or bad t-stat. See if it pushes coolant back intot the overflow when not under boost.
 

blownlxvert

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
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endicott n.y.
Jul 31, 2006
#3
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #3
i guess im unclear on how a headgasket could cause this, especially when the oil clean, coolants clean, and no smoke. i dont really know how i can watch the bottle when im driving it . ill be really angry if its a gasket, i even bought the reinforced ring fel pros.
 

Victor's GT

Member
Jul 24, 2006
44
2
7
New Jersey
Jul 31, 2006
#4
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #4
blownlxvert said:
i guess im unclear on how a headgasket could cause this, especially when the oil clean, coolants clean, and no smoke. i dont really know how i can watch the bottle when im driving it . ill be really angry if its a gasket, i even bought the reinforced ring fel pros.
Click to expand...

The heads are lifting and boost is seeping into the coolant passages thus pushing coolant into the recovery tank. Milky oil and smoke out of tailpipes are not the only signs nor even have to be present to show leaky h/g.

Don't go into boost and check to see if overflow gets backed up..if it doesn't, get on it and then check. if it's full of coolant you have h/g issue
 

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl
15 Year Member
Mar 4, 2003
4,014
1,698
203
Allentown, PA
www.cardomain.com
Jul 31, 2006
#5
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #5
I blew a headgasket and didn't even know it. There were no signs except that I was loosing coolant and my car was running a little hot. All it takes is a small crack in a headgasket for it to leak coolant into the cylinder. You might be loosing a drop at a time. Check all the plugs and see if any of them are slightly wet.
 

blownlxvert

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
48
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endicott n.y.
Jul 31, 2006
#6
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #6
ill try that, did it last night running it hard came home and all was normal. its only after a hot day and running al lot of miles in one outting. ill give it a shot. should i recheck the touque on the headbolts or what. seems kind of rediculous this would happen on a new motor. not to mention i quadruple check all my specs when reassembling. btw, all the plugs are buring perfect.
 

bullitstang1313

Member
Jan 21, 2003
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Indianapolis / Columbus, Indiana
Jul 31, 2006
#7
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #7
With a forced induction engine your cylinder pressures are higher. Since the pressure is higher coolant most likely wouldn't leak into the cylinder, but combustion gases will leak into the coolant forcing it into the overflow. This is what Victor's GT was saying. You might also check to see if the weep hole on your waterpump is leaking.
 

90lxcoupe

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
3,596
350
134
Jul 31, 2006
#8
  • Jul 31, 2006
  • #8
the first time i blew a head gasket i was watching the car on the dyno and it shot coolant about 5 feet up from the radiator cap, and if there was boost getting into the cooling system this would probly bee the same result
 
B

Biggeley

New Member
Mar 4, 2003
136
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0
Aug 1, 2006
#9
  • Aug 1, 2006
  • #9
Buy or rent a head gasket leak detector. They are used to detect combustion gasses in your cooling system. This will tell you definitively whether or not you have a leaky headgasket.
 

blownlxvert

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
48
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0
endicott n.y.
Aug 3, 2006
#10
  • Aug 3, 2006
  • #10
so would detination most likly be the cause of this, right after the rebuild this winter it was still sd and ran like crap and was detonating a few times. changed to mass air and everything was good. the car is going to be dyno tuned before it comes out next year. will a tune, new gaskets put me in a more safe situation, because i dont want to go through this crap all the time.
 

blownlxvert

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
48
0
0
endicott n.y.
Aug 10, 2006
#11
  • Aug 10, 2006
  • #11
put a new radiator cap on and it has be fine for about a week. and ive been runnin the crap out of it.
 

blownlxvert

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
48
0
0
endicott n.y.
Aug 10, 2006
#12
  • Aug 10, 2006
  • #12
has anyone run into this, could it be this simple. anyone.
 

Victor's GT

Member
Jul 24, 2006
44
2
7
New Jersey
Aug 11, 2006
#13
  • Aug 11, 2006
  • #13
blownlxvert said:
has anyone run into this, could it be this simple. anyone.
Click to expand...

Yes it could be as simple as that. If the old cap wasn't holding the correct pressure
 

fox-gt

Member
Feb 28, 2004
204
0
17
TN
Aug 11, 2006
#14
  • Aug 11, 2006
  • #14
Mine only had 1,200 miles on it and the same thing happened to me. The new water pump they installed cracked and was dripping slowly, never saw anything on the ground. Gave me a heart attack.
 
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