Using excessive antifreeze?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 28, 2003 | 01:13 PM

swirk

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 407

Likes: 0

From: New England

Using excessive antifreeze?

My wife's Expedition used 3 gallons of antifreeze during her trip from New Hampshire to Virginia (~1100 miles one way). Anyone know of any issues that would cause this?

It is a '98 Eddie Bauer Expedition. It has the 5.4L V8 in it.

There is no antifreeze in the oil, so I don't think it is the head gasket. The radiator is not leaking any fluid. When you stop the car it smells like antifreeze. There is no antifreeze smell inside the car. Very strange. I am going to call the garage and have it fixed (it is still under warranty), but I want to have an educated guess as to what it wrong. That way I can make sure it is fixed right.

Apr 28, 2003 | 08:10 PM

Rtpjunior

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 369

Likes: 0

From: Bronx, New York

Using excessive antifreeze?

Try letting it idle for 30 min or so. Maybe you have a leak that only shows when heated up. Look for stains, etc. on the ground. Check the hoses under the hood, pass. side, that cross over the motor. They are notorious for leaking, and fouling plugs/coils.

Apr 29, 2003 | 06:40 AM

1999XLT

Elder User

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 719

Likes: 1

From: Long Island USA

Using excessive antifreeze?

I agree with RTp. The only way I could possibly think of to lose 3 gallons of A/F is a leak. If it was being burned up by the motor you would see a HUGE WHITE CLOUD behind you and the truck would sputter BADLY. So if you had neiither of those problems it must be a leak.

Apr 30, 2003 | 11:09 AM

hokiebob

Junior User

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 54

Likes: 0

Using excessive antifreeze?

I would check the head gaskets for external leaks. I've heard, but not seen, that some heads will leak coolant externally just like the notorious oil leaks.

May 1, 2003 | 05:45 AM

Rtpjunior

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 369

Likes: 0

From: Bronx, New York

Using excessive antifreeze?

I just remebered something I heard about a test that can be done with a dye. A dye is added to your coolant, and the engine is ran for a peiod of time. A special light is then used to find the leak. The dye has a pigment in it that glows when the special light is used. Maybe this could help your problem.

May 3, 2003 | 07:38 AM

HDElliott

Freshman User

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 30

Likes: 0

From: Texas USA

Using excessive antifreeze?

I would check out the heater core. On my 99 EXPY, I had a leak using a lot of fluid in a short period of time. It smell of anti-freeze but could never find the leak.

Question, once it gets to normal temp, when you turn on the heat, HIGH, is the anti-freeze smell more prevalant. If so, then you may have a direction.

Just an experience and a thought..i