disappearing coolant

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Oct 24, 2002 | 04:41 PM

Falcon90

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From: Festus USA

disappearing coolant

Oct 30, 2002 | 11:38 AM

MrPleasant

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disappearing coolant

A question regarding disappearing coolant... This is a 1990 Mustang 5.0 HO, but I figured the engine is very similar to many in F150 models so I am posting the problem here in hopes of getting some info.

About once a week the coolant low light comes on. The resevoir is filled and then the next week the light is on again. The car is not used much....about 50 miles per week. There is no sign of a coolant leak..no puddles. There is no visible sign of a leak that I can see anywhere on or around the engine. I have pulled the spark plugs and examined them. The driver side plugs appear to have signs of a slightly rich mixture. The passenger side plugs are clean and appear normal. The plugs have about 3000 miles on them. There is no sign of any coolant in the oil.

So, where is the coolant going? Head gasket leak? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance...

MrP

Oct 30, 2002 | 04:14 PM

gasman6674

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From: Greenwood In. USA

disappearing coolant

You might want to do a compression test and a cylinder leakage test. If the plugs on the passenger side are clean I would start there. I have a 3.8 in a Cougar it blew the head gasket on the passenger side and the plug in that cylinder looked brand new. I drove it 2-3000mi before it truly blew. I had disappering coolant and a very intermitant overheating spike.
Anyway a leakage test should pin point if there is a problem

Hope this helps

Gasman
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Propane Execeptional Energy

Oct 30, 2002 | 04:29 PM

MrPleasant

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disappearing coolant

Thanks for the advice. I am going to do those tests I think soon. I don't know how muchh longer the car should be driven in the state it is in.

Any ideas how much a head gasket job costs on one of these engines?

Oct 30, 2002 | 04:32 PM

gasman6674

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From: Greenwood In. USA

disappearing coolant

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Oct-02 AT 05:33 PM (EST)]It cost me $1300 to do the 3.8 but It was my cousin and we did some extra stuff while it was down. I was quoted $1100 by a shop

Gasman
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Propane Execeptional Energy

Oct 30, 2002 | 04:50 PM

MrPleasant

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disappearing coolant

Ouch...that's probably half the value of the car! Thanks again for the input....

MrP

Oct 30, 2002 | 06:17 PM

madman666

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Joined: Oct 2001

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From: Buena Vista

disappearing coolant

Had a friend with the same problem.
He found the culprit to be the radiator cap, put a new cap on...problem solved.
I’m only saying this worked for him, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it.