Update, after fixing tstat gasket leak and replacing the timing cover gasket it is still loosing a lot of coolent. I don't think the timing cover was ever leaking. I think the tstat was leaking running down the front of motor causing smell and making the timing cover look wet.
Just what I didn't need to hear. Mine has been leaking for about 18 months and it is getting worse. Leaked about a half gallon this past week. I'm contemplating on doing it myself or taking it to the shop. It's a daily driver and my wife's business vehicle.
Good luck with your leak.
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The Only Dumb Question is the One You Didn't ask!
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95 Pontiac Bonneville SE 207K
00 Ford Ranger XLT 2WD 3.0 117K
06 Ford Taurus SLE 44K
Took it back to Ford dealer this morning. 2pm today went to check on progress, tech had intake off and gaskets looked good with no sign of leakage. Motor spotless inside, looked like new and has 157k miles. Tech was about to remove both heads.
I will post results when I hear back.
Wow, they're taking the heads off for a shot in the dark? Thats pretty bold for a shop!
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88 4x4 300 six, 5spd. granny 1st, reg cab 3.55
85 4x4 5.0L F-One Fiddy Reg Cab 3.55 With a Flatbed
^Now that its 21 years old, it can smoke and drink!^
Ford dealer called me this afternoon. They say one of the heads was warped and that they could see a coolent trail into a cyl. They sent both heads to be magnafluxed and plained. Truck should be done tomorrow afternoon. Could not of been real bad leak as engine did not smoke, miss or run hot.
A little coolant leak actually is hard to notice. Its sort of like "water injection" but free. Depending on how long it was leaking and how many miles are on your truck, a good item to replace maintenence wise would be the 02 sensors, coolant in the exhaust can ruin the sensors.
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88 4x4 300 six, 5spd. granny 1st, reg cab 3.55
85 4x4 5.0L F-One Fiddy Reg Cab 3.55 With a Flatbed
^Now that its 21 years old, it can smoke and drink!^
new update. still going through coolent at same rate after all the repairs. Ford dealer was totally baffled and offered to foot the bill on next moves.
Three weeks ago this coming monday they put in a radiator and the loss has gotten better. Went from empty jug at under 500 miles to 700-800miles, first sign of progress. Dealer is still baffled and the truck goes back in on Monday.
This started 10k miles ago with the first repairs done 5k miles ago.
The dealers involved have been great to deal with, just wish it was fixed.
Sorry, thought I had posted the final results. Here goes.
After my last post it went back in and they tore the heads off again, and sent them to a different machine shop. They came back cracked! Two Foed reman heads and problem finanally fixed.. Has been about 7K since the new Radiator and heads and no loss of coolent. Truck runs great and is headed for 170K miles.
In summary, I am thinking that the radiator started to leak in between oil changes and went low enough to cause the heads to crack. Seems strange both heads would crack and that the first machine shop could not find them.
As a side note E85 went to a $.75 spread compared to gas for him in MPLS MN. so for the first time the truck is running on E85. He is comming out ahead at this price spread. MPG has only dropped from 19.5 to 16.9. At this spread he can drop to 15.6 and still break even.
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