loosing coolant
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 202
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From: Hamburg PA
loosing coolant
well guys i believe the ol 6 is begging for a new headgasket. i was loosing coolant before but figured it was just the heater core. (already replaced) but now that i hav put roughly 40 miles on it the coolant dropped more. i figure the headgasket or there was still air in it. im gunna add some right after i get this post done and see what happens. are there any other places these motors leak?
and if it the head gasket while shes torn down is there anything special i should do to the head?
and if it the head gasket while shes torn down is there anything special i should do to the head?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Do a pressure test on the cooling system to try to isolate your leak.
It is possible for the engine to suck in coolant, so it could be the head gasket doing that. More commonly combustion leaks into the system, forcing coolant out the overflow while you are driving which leads to overheatin.
If you determine that the head has to come off, take it to a machine shop and let them check the surface for straigtness and check the casing for cracks.
I have not heard much about I-6 Fords cracking, but it's possible.
It is possible for the engine to suck in coolant, so it could be the head gasket doing that. More commonly combustion leaks into the system, forcing coolant out the overflow while you are driving which leads to overheatin.
If you determine that the head has to come off, take it to a machine shop and let them check the surface for straigtness and check the casing for cracks.
I have not heard much about I-6 Fords cracking, but it's possible.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 150
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From: torrance
You may want to try a testing tool called "Block Cheker", or "Block Tester". It is a dye that turns color if your head gasket is leaking and costs about $40. I bought this kit several years ago and it has saved me one teardown of the head as it showed that it was not a head gasket problem I was having.
Also, check your oil to see if it has water in it.
Also, check your oil to see if it has water in it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
The 'block check' is a great tool. If there is combustion leaking INTO the coolant you will know. It is possible in some cases to get a false negative. This is where coolant is sucked into the cylinder on the intake stroke, but when the cylinder pressure becomes positive it forces the leaky gasket to close up.
