Overheating, Leaking lots of coolant, smoking

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savegoodautonfg

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May 11, 2005

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Oct 25, 2005

#1

• Oct 25, 2005

• #1

I will drive my 5.0 around for a bit then the temp guage will get kind of high and it will start smoking out of the hood. i pop the hood and it is smoking looks like from the overflow tank or the radiator cap. if you press on the radiator cap more smoke shoots out. i'm not sure what could be wrong. also it leaves a puddle of coolant on the ground but when you look in the overflow tank there is still coolant in there but none in the radiator tank. what to do? please help.. i'm out of ideas.

 

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tjm73

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Aug 3, 2000

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Oct 25, 2005

#2

• Oct 25, 2005

• #2

I had a similar issue. Not as bad though. Try getting a new radiator cap. After awhile we figured out that must be bad and when I got a new cap the problem stopped. May or may not be your problem, but a new cap is cheap and may fix the problem. Just be sure you get the correct cap. 16-17psi I think is right.

 

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87'GTstang

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Feb 16, 2004

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Oct 25, 2005

#3

• Oct 25, 2005

• #3

When you say coolant on the ground - is this a leak or is it just "boilover" that came from the overflow tank?

 

vristang

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Mar 31, 2005

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Oct 25, 2005

#4

• Oct 25, 2005

• #4

tjm73 said:

I had a similar issue. Not as bad though. Try getting a new radiator cap. After awhile we figured out that must be bad and when I got a new cap the problem stopped. May or may not be your problem, but a new cap is cheap and may fix the problem. Just be sure you get the correct cap. 16-17psi I think is right.

Click to expand...

:Word:
Sounds like the cap to me
Good Luck

 

8

89white50

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Nov 16, 2004

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central MA

Oct 25, 2005

#5

• Oct 25, 2005

• #5

i have had this problem too! could be the thermo sticking, but try the cap first like other have said.

 

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86_stang

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Jul 5, 2005

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Oct 25, 2005

#6

• Oct 25, 2005

• #6

87'GTstang said:

When you say coolant on the ground - is this a leak or is it just "boilover" that came from the overflow tank?

Click to expand...

Yea cause I had the same problem the other day but my temp gauge went to hot really fast then I saw cooliant all over the ground then I noticed my radiator crack so had to get a new one.

 

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savegoodautonfg

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Oct 26, 2005

#7

• Oct 26, 2005

• #7

I found in the back of the engine where the firewall is the tube that goes into the car for the heat has a plastic flush T and it was cracked. i took 4 hours replacing it last night and i took it for a test drive and the temp guage went all the way up and my car started running really shiitty and it started smoking. I put it into my driveway popped the hood, and saw it was leaking a lil bit at the plastic t and it was smoking again. i dont understand how it could still be overheating if i fixed that problem.

 

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savegoodautonfg

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#8

• Oct 26, 2005

• #8

Now it seems my car is also driving different.. it seems to be sputtering or vibrating while driving.. its really weird. and just started last nite

 

Look Its Aaron

Your car looks like it came straight from Mexico.

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Oct 26, 2005

#9

• Oct 26, 2005

• #9

My money is on a blown head gasket.

Check your oil for any signs of coolant. See if there is a slight green tint to the oil, or if it actually smells like coolant.

Did you race your car recently? What happened prior to all of these problems?

 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row

Oct 17, 2004

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Oct 26, 2005

#10

• Oct 26, 2005

• #10

Please tell me how your car over heats.... Does it overheat when it's idling or when you are driving? Or both?

Key components that control your cooling system:

1) Radiator Cap
2) Thermostat
3) Radiator
4) Overflow Bottle
5) Mechanical Clutch Fan
6) Water Pump
7) Hoses

Now depending on where your car is leaking, anyone of these parts (among the others) are the ones that can lead to overheating. You said that you replaced the T-fitting. Are all your hoses on securely?

I would also like to know what / if any mods you have.

Things that come to my head:

1) you water pump has failed you
2) your thermostat is failed closed
3) your radiator cap can no longer hold pressure

(Below is what I would do)

First, take the car to Autozone and have the cap pressure tested. The cap needs to hold 16PSI. If the cap fails, replace it and try your car again. They can also apply pressure to your cooling system to help you look for leaks..

Next, (If the cap doesn't fix it) Buy a new Thermostat and gasket and replace the one that is in your car. Again, test your car (in your drive way if possible)

If it's still overheating, let the car cool down and restart it... Look at the fan to verify that it turns and that you can feel coolant passing through the hoses. At this point you should replace the Waterpump and the fan clutch.

 

vristang

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Mar 31, 2005

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Oct 26, 2005

#11

• Oct 26, 2005

• #11

savegoodautonfg said:

I found in the back of the engine where the firewall is the tube that goes into the car for the heat has a plastic flush T and it was cracked. i took 4 hours replacing it last night and i took it for a test drive and the temp guage went all the way up and my car started running really shiitty and it started smoking. I put it into my driveway popped the hood, and saw it was leaking a lil bit at the plastic t and it was smoking again. i dont understand how it could still be overheating if i fixed that problem.

Click to expand...

Did you purge the air out of the coolant system?
Even if you did it could still be causing some mild temp fluctuations for a while.

 

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savegoodautonfg

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Oct 27, 2005

#12

• Oct 27, 2005

• #12

srothfuss. thanks for your help. it overheats at idle and while driving.. and i changed pressure cap already. its at a really good mechanic around here getting looked at today.. what do you think could be causing the car to be driving like shhitt

 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master

Apr 10, 2002

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Oct 27, 2005

#13

• Oct 27, 2005

• #13

My guess is that you kept driving it while it was overheated and really cooked something good in the motor. I too think you've got at least a blown head gasket.

 

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fiveohGT

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Jun 22, 2004

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Oct 27, 2005

#14

• Oct 27, 2005

• #14

Probably a blown head gasket like mentioned above

 

OL' WHITEY

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Oct 27, 2005

#15

• Oct 27, 2005

• #15

Yup. You let it overheat for whatever reason (probably that cracked plastic thing you're talking about) and it blew a head gasket. That's where I'm putting my money. Take that plastic thing totally out and get two new heater hoses. In fact, why don't you just replace all of your hoses, your thermostat and your water pump? That should narrow things down a bit. Chances are that stuff needs to be done anyway and it can't hurt. Besides, it's relatively cheap. If it still overheats, it's either your raditator or a head gasket.

 

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tjm73

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Oct 27, 2005

#16

• Oct 27, 2005

• #16

I agree that you most likey also have a blown head gasket now given the symptoms described in post #8.

 

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savegoodautonfg

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#17

• Oct 27, 2005

• #17

A blown head gasket would cause my car to drive very weird.

 

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tjm73

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Oct 27, 2005

#18

• Oct 27, 2005

• #18

Define "drive very wierd".

 

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fiveohGT

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Oct 27, 2005

#19

• Oct 27, 2005

• #19

oh i want to hear the definition to

 

Swarzkopf

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Oct 27, 2005

#20

• Oct 27, 2005

• #20

For God's sake, anyone reading this thread who doesn't know any better, take heed: Do NOT keep driving your car around while it's overheated! It's likely that savegoodautonfg took a small issue and turned it into a major problem here.