Coolant Leak
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 132
Likes: 5
Coolant Leak
Had my coolant system flushed a little over a week ago and I think it may have lead to a coolant line failure. I could smell coolant, then I lost my heater. By the time I got home the coolant was leaking badly and eventually bled dry.
After cleaning up the messI looked under the engine to see where the leak had sprung. I'm no expert but it looks like it could have leaked from the water pump. A ruptured seal maybe?
Assuming it was the water pump/gasket, what kind of ballpark figure am I looking at if I take it in to the Ford dealership for servicing?
Any advice here would be great.
-Mike
After cleaning up the messI looked under the engine to see where the leak had sprung. I'm no expert but it looks like it could have leaked from the water pump. A ruptured seal maybe?
Assuming it was the water pump/gasket, what kind of ballpark figure am I looking at if I take it in to the Ford dealership for servicing?
Any advice here would be great.
-Mike
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 132
Likes: 5
Oh, if only it was the water pump! Guess what? It's a blown head gasket! At least, it probably is. Mechanic says it might be a cracked head as well (or block, I can't remember.....coolant was gushing out, though).
Boo! I am not pleased.
it'll be $2500. to fix. 
Boo! I am not pleased.
it'll be $2500. to fix.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 132
Likes: 5
Thanks a lot for the link! Is it possible the leak is caused by something like an "O" ring or something else, other than the head gasket or a compromised block/head? I am rather worried there is a better, quicker fix than my mechanic is aware of.....and he'll charge me accordingly.
What should I tell him? I seems the two options he sees are the head gasket or a crack somewhere in the head.
Advice here would be priceless.
What should I tell him? I seems the two options he sees are the head gasket or a crack somewhere in the head.
Advice here would be priceless.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 11
From: Minnesota
I dunno' man....maybe a cracked head if you drove it long enough with no coolent. If it was mine I would fill it back up with coolent and start it up, wait for it to build up pressure, and look for where it leaks. If it is "pouring out" it should be obvious. You said in the area of the water pump? There is a hose under the intake that could have cracked ( from the back of the water pump). My Mustang had a major blowup like that, but that was the coolent crossover from the thermostat. The OEM one is plastic for my year...the replacement is metal now in that area. I don't think that applies to yours, but take a looksee.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
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Yep... no time to guess. Fill it up and LOOK where it runs out. May not even need to start it up if i leaks that bad.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,354
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From: Winnipeg
Your mechanic should use a proper pressure tester. That way he can pump slightly over rad cap pressure rating and look for leaks through whole system without engine running. Then the fan won't be blowing coolant all over and the engine won't be too hot to touch.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 132
Likes: 5
Ok, the mystery has been solved. The coolant was leaking out of one of the exhaust manifold studs, which had been replaced by the previous owner (he wasn't careful and punched a hole into the water jacket).
What a relief. I'm back on the road, $500.00 later (beats $2000+
).
Thanks for your input, lads!
What a relief. I'm back on the road, $500.00 later (beats $2000+
). Thanks for your input, lads!
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