disappearing coolant
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 100
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disappearing coolant
A question regarding disappearing coolant... This is a 1990 Mustang 5.0 HO, but I figured the engine is very similar to many in F150 models so I am posting the problem here in hopes of getting some info.
About once a week the coolant low light comes on. The resevoir is filled and then the next week the light is on again. The car is not used much....about 50 miles per week. There is no sign of a coolant leak..no puddles. There is no visible sign of a leak that I can see anywhere on or around the engine. I have pulled the spark plugs and examined them. The driver side plugs appear to have signs of a slightly rich mixture. The passenger side plugs are clean and appear normal. The plugs have about 3000 miles on them. There is no sign of any coolant in the oil.
So, where is the coolant going? Head gasket leak? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance...
MrP
About once a week the coolant low light comes on. The resevoir is filled and then the next week the light is on again. The car is not used much....about 50 miles per week. There is no sign of a coolant leak..no puddles. There is no visible sign of a leak that I can see anywhere on or around the engine. I have pulled the spark plugs and examined them. The driver side plugs appear to have signs of a slightly rich mixture. The passenger side plugs are clean and appear normal. The plugs have about 3000 miles on them. There is no sign of any coolant in the oil.
So, where is the coolant going? Head gasket leak? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance...
MrP
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Rochester US
disappearing coolant
Are you getting white smoke out the exhaust? Ive seen head gaskets go without effecting the oil. Could the heater core be leaking coolant onto the passenger floor board? Do a compression check.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
disappearing coolant
I am not aware of any coolant on the passenger floor, but this is my mother's car so I will ask her. Thanks for the advice. I have seen no white smoke in the exhaust.
Thanks again for the tips!
MrP
Thanks again for the tips!
MrP
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: united states
disappearing coolant
Probally the heater core. There is a drain line in the heater/air cond. box that would drain any signs of coolant. That is what was happening on my 89 mustang. Heater cores are a ##### to get to on that car. You have to remove the entire dash assy. and drain the a/c to remove the box. Good luck on doing it yourself. If you got the $$$ pay someone to do it for you, it took me six hours to do mine.
New User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena USA
disappearing coolant
Place a piece of cardboard under the front end of the engine. You could have a weeping water pump. A small amount of fluid will escape by the weep hole in the snout of the pump.
Other good suggestions above.
Michael Means
Other good suggestions above.
Michael Means
