perplexing antifreeze smell?
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Littleton, CO
perplexing antifreeze smell?
It's cold here in Denver tonight, and my wife and I were out in the Aerostar. When we got back home and she pulled into the garage, I caught a whiff of the distinct smell of antifreeze. I checked the radiator, upper hoses, overflow bottle, etc. and looked around the engine compartment a little bit. Also looked underneath for any obvious leaks, drips, etc. (unfortunately, I also found a torn front drivers CV boot 
)
Anybody have any hints or tips for places to look? The engine isn't running hot, there are no obvious leaks, the overflow bottle is NOT overflowing. I am stumped, but would appreciate any ideas.
As far as the CV boot is concerned, I've been advised that it basically a lot easier and less messier to replace the entire halfshaft rather than messing around with just the boot . The advice was from my brother (A mechanic, as well as some of the old posts from this board. (and the price is not that much different). Can someone tell me a couple of good places to look for the parts, and about how much they should run?
thanks in advance!!
)Anybody have any hints or tips for places to look? The engine isn't running hot, there are no obvious leaks, the overflow bottle is NOT overflowing. I am stumped, but would appreciate any ideas.
As far as the CV boot is concerned, I've been advised that it basically a lot easier and less messier to replace the entire halfshaft rather than messing around with just the boot . The advice was from my brother (A mechanic, as well as some of the old posts from this board. (and the price is not that much different). Can someone tell me a couple of good places to look for the parts, and about how much they should run?
thanks in advance!!
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,818
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Sorry to hear this, I am still fighting a mystery leak which I am certain involves the radiator side tank seal(s). Mine goes through episodes involving a major leak then mysteriously 'heals' itself for weeks on end.
Yours may be something related to freeze plug seepage onto the exhaust system, which would simultaneously allow you to smell the distinctive aroma while preventing you from seeing the leak if it is being evaporated away.
A-1 Cardone furnishes most of the rebuilt half-shafts found at your local parts stores. The price, last time I looked, was around $65-70 per unit with a core charge. For my Aerostar, I purchased them from CVO in Florida. The price was less (3 years ago) and there was no core charge. http://www.cvaxles.com/frame.htm My son's Probe had just a torn boot but the price of the replacing both inner and outer was the same as a rebuilt shaft. Saved a lot of mess and time by just swapping out the entire shaft.
Yours may be something related to freeze plug seepage onto the exhaust system, which would simultaneously allow you to smell the distinctive aroma while preventing you from seeing the leak if it is being evaporated away.
A-1 Cardone furnishes most of the rebuilt half-shafts found at your local parts stores. The price, last time I looked, was around $65-70 per unit with a core charge. For my Aerostar, I purchased them from CVO in Florida. The price was less (3 years ago) and there was no core charge. http://www.cvaxles.com/frame.htm My son's Probe had just a torn boot but the price of the replacing both inner and outer was the same as a rebuilt shaft. Saved a lot of mess and time by just swapping out the entire shaft.
Last edited by aerocolorado; Dec 11, 2003 at 10:51 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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If you have a radiator tester, pump it up and throughly look at all connections, radiator, engine, hoses, manifold and waterpump for possible leaks. If you don't, borrow one, rent one or take it to the shop. Good luck.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Georgia
My 96 would slowly loose coolant too. I used a pressure tester. It held pressure fine. Found no leaks at all. I'm still loosing coolant though.
I'm going to try the dye method next. I hope Autozone has it.
By the way, my 94 that I just fixed the heads on is doing the same thing. Go Figure.
I'm going to try the dye method next. I hope Autozone has it.
By the way, my 94 that I just fixed the heads on is doing the same thing. Go Figure.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
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From: Orland USA
If it was cold and you had your heater and/or drfroster on it could be a bad Heater Core. You can smell it but not see it unless it makes a steam path up your windshield. How I found out I had a bad core. Kept getting wifts of anti-freeze but saw no leaks.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 148
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From: CANADA
Yup I'm with JT. my 95 has a drip tray on the inside so when the heater core is leakin it drips to the outside of the van, but in a place you cant see worth a damn. You know for sure when the inside fogs up when you turn the fan on. The hoses had special clamps which were a pain when I had to replace the core on mine. And the dealer wanted a fortune for the little *&&^ things so dont break em lol. Just for the hell of it, pull the dipstick. And you can also check the frost plugs on the side of the block. Fords are bad for electrolosis in the anti-freeze. But if all else fails just keep it full of anti-freeze until the problem exposes itself.
Hope this might help in any way
95 areo
91 exploder 4x4
Hope this might help in any way
95 areo
91 exploder 4x4
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 14,413
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
You could also have a radiator cap that isn't keeping pressure. If it looks old, for how much they cost, I would just replace it. Good luck!
-Matt
-Matt
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Littleton, CO
Thanks for the replies guys -
I'll make sure to have my wife keep an eye on gauges until I can hunt the problem down.
Will also be looking into the half-shaft vs. CV repair. My brother told me today that he thought there was a special tool needed to remove the halfshaft. I looked in Chiltons, but couldn't find ANYTHING on how to remove the CVs or the halfshaft.
Anyone know if this tool is needed?
I'll make sure to have my wife keep an eye on gauges until I can hunt the problem down.
Will also be looking into the half-shaft vs. CV repair. My brother told me today that he thought there was a special tool needed to remove the halfshaft. I looked in Chiltons, but couldn't find ANYTHING on how to remove the CVs or the halfshaft.
Anyone know if this tool is needed?
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Littleton, CO
Well, I looked around under the van last night. Found a liquid residue trail on passenger side of the engine. Traced it up to find out that it originates between cylinder 5 and 6 on the lower part of the head. Can distinctly see that liquid of some type has started to come out between the head and the block. 
Anyone want to tell me that it is NOT head gasket related? (Wishful thinking) I'll try to post a pic tomorrow.
For now, there is no coolant loss or engine performance issues. we really aren't even losing that much coolant, but I can smell it after it has been running.
I guess the next step is to start the engine and watch that seam while it warms up to get a definitive answer.
Does anybody have anything *positive* to add, or am I pretty much looking at taking it in for head repairs (I am not up to the task of pulling heads, especially when the temp in my garage is below freezing
)
Anyone want to tell me that it is NOT head gasket related? (Wishful thinking) I'll try to post a pic tomorrow.
For now, there is no coolant loss or engine performance issues. we really aren't even losing that much coolant, but I can smell it after it has been running.
I guess the next step is to start the engine and watch that seam while it warms up to get a definitive answer.
Does anybody have anything *positive* to add, or am I pretty much looking at taking it in for head repairs (I am not up to the task of pulling heads, especially when the temp in my garage is below freezing
)
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 435
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From: Corpus Christi, Tx. 78418
Jeff,
Sorry to hear it, but surely sounds like a head gasket at the least. Hope it's not a cracked head. Get it fixed soon, before you have a much more serious problem and ruin your engine. LOL
Happy holidays to you and yours.
Ron
Sorry to hear it, but surely sounds like a head gasket at the least. Hope it's not a cracked head. Get it fixed soon, before you have a much more serious problem and ruin your engine. LOL
Happy holidays to you and yours.
Ron
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