Hey guys,

I've been around the block a few times here before with our aerostar. Well now I'm back again. The thing has 288,000 miles on it, the transmission has lost OD, and slips really bad in the remaining three gears, but for some reason my dad wont scrap the piece. I keep trying to convice him that he got the $2,600 he paid for it in 1998 back out of it, it had 121k on it then, and it's time to move on... Anyway, enough of that...

The current problem is in the cooling system, there is a leak/loss of coolant somewhere, We put stop leak in it and since have not observed any fluid on the driveway, but we are still loosing a lot of coolant, I think there is an internal leak. The wierdest thing is, I recently put a new thermostat, and both new hoses on it, and for some strange reason it acts like there's a vaccum in the cooling system, the top hose colapses, even with the system full. and that's with the thermostat closed or open it's the same both ways.

If there's a problem with the radiator could that cause this or is it almost surely an internal coolant leak?

If there's big internal problems, even a head gasket or intake gasket on this thing, it's gone, I am not fighting in that engine bay to change a head gasket, and it would cost way more than it's worth for a shop to do it... my civic or my escort was a way different ball game on that one... How can I find out for sure if something inside the engine is leaking? no there's no coolant in the oil, and coolant does not shoot out of the radiator if it's run with the cap off, so it doesn't sound like a head gasket, but more like the intake manifold gasket might be leaking. Oh, it doesn't run hot either.

Thanks,
-Mike-

 

is the carpet wet on the passenger side floor? heater core might be leaking.

Good luck

Jeff

 

i am thinking you may have a vapor lock!!! you may have air traped in the cooling system that you need to blead out............ dont blame ((Ford)) it can happen to any make or modal.......... ford chevy dodge honda.. i think these guys can help you bleed out any air you may have traped in your aerostar colling system... i am no aerostar expert.... jmo

 

ohhhh one other thing!! if you have a hose that is colapsing you may have a big hair ball someware...lol... try a back flush...this may (also) take care of any vapor locks you may have

 

Nah, I wasn't blaming ford, I love fords, I just drive a honda civic for A. gas mileage, and b. it was what i could afford at the time, and c. they are one of the most reliable cars on the road, like it or not... I really want an 06 F-150 XLT crew cab, but that's another thread... On another off topic note, my civic has 216k miles on it and runs like it's new.

I like the Aerostar, but it's at that point in it's life where it is costing so much time and money to keep it on the road... Believe me it has had to earn it's keep in the time we've had it. it ran 120miles a day for 5 years, and I drove the living mess out of it when I started driving in 2000. Then we just moved from Williston, SC to Albany, GA, and that's a 313mile drive (one way) it was doing every other weekend, for 6months while my dad was looking for a house. We wont even discuss gas mileage with the bad OD in it....

I am pretty sure that I got all of the air out of it, when the hoses were changed, although there is always a chance I suppose that air has gotten back into it, especially as much as we have the cap off to re-fill it. I had it up on the ramps, filled it, ran it until the thermostat opened, and refilled it again, then drove it, came back and topped it off, if that didn't get the air out I don't know what will...

Boy is it fun being the designated mechanic of the house...

Thanks,
-Mike-

 

Oh, no the heater core isn't leaking. thanks though...

 

He is wanting to replace the radiator anyway since the tank WAS leaking before we used the stop leak on it.

My thoughts are to replace the radiator, but first run a couple bottles of the prestone radiator flush concentrate through it, and back flush it, then install the new radiator, and see where we are at.

 

about your transmission,,,, you may want to start another thred on that......... it could be a simple fix.. these aerostar guys are realy in tune with tranny problems your dad may see over 500thousand miles out of his old aerostar yet... never say never....... lol

 

top hose collapse is generally caused by a defective radiator cap seal to overflow tank or overflow tank line plugged

hot engine cools, coolant deexpands, system cannot draw back in coolant from overflow tank, top hose collapses

bottom hose cannot collapse because of inner steel spring insert for pump suction

 

Hey guy, steel spring insert??????? My bottom one is a plain hose, I can squeeze it together with my hand when its cold. Could that be the cause of my temp fluctuation problem?? While driving with a warmed up engine, my temp gauge starts at a little below dead center goes up about two to three lines and then drops back down to its original position. It cycles like that all the time that I'm driving. I had suspected the thermostat, but I cannot get the housing off to replace that bugger. The bolts are seized and I'm afraid I'll twist them off.

 

My guess is that if the issues get fixed properly, it will continue to save money, not cost money. When dealing with a coolant leak, you often need to think outside the box. Coolant doesn't just leak at hoses and fittings. Coolant expands as it heats up, and flows into the overflow. If the overflow hose is oil soaked, or is not sealing against the radaitor cap, coolant escapes as it flows through, and air gets in as the system cools. If the hose is oily or swollen, replace it. Clamp it with either a small hose clamp or a plastic zip tie to prevent leaking. Look on the underside of the water pump houseing. If there is scale and signs of leakage from the weep hole on the bottom of the houseing, you need a new water pump. To help prevent airlock, someone on this forum recently mentioned filling as burping the system with the van parked on a hill, or with the front end lifted on jackstands. I would replace the bottom hose with one that has an inner spring if you don't already have one. That should cover just about anything.