Normal Coolant temp?

[Styrofoam04]

A few weeks back the mustang overheated on the highway. Had the cruise control on at 140 with the A/C blowing in my face, having a nice drive.. when the A/C got hot. WTF!? Played with the knobs, then checked the gauges and I instantly put it in neutral. The Temperature gauge was in the red. While gliding to a safer spot to pull over in the express, the engine shut down.

While waiting an 1 hour for a tow, the Engine cooled. I started her and she turned over with no issues. But I'm not gonna risk it so I waited for the tow.

Got her home and after she cooled down, I checked and there was no coolant in the reservoir. Shit FUCk!

I had a similar experience with my dads old van I was using for a few weeks. He forgot to tell me he has a coolant leak and it was bone dry and I cracked the block!

Anyhoo the mustang was short aboot 6L... Where did it go? I noticed no leaks.

I check the oil for mixing. I need an oil change but the oil looks normal. it's dark golden, but not milky.
The coolant is not rusty or oily and The fan is running??

so I go test it out with torque running and on the highway I'm running 88C but idling it hits 95-102C

https://i.postimg.cc/bJsgGc0R/Screenshot-20190823-184856-Torque.jpg

Is this normal running temperature?

[RedSN]

88C = 190F. That’s normal. Mine usually runs between 190-205

Not leaking, not in the oil, only one place left to go ...out the tailpipe.

[ZR]

Coolant has............
-leaked into the oil
-external leak
-seeping into cyls via head gasket or crack n burnt
If your 100% confident no external leak, might as well drive for a bit while closely monitoring coolant level. Q............how long since it was last checked?

[Laffs]

Check the valley, does your car have the OEM Ford Replacement intake manifold (separate intake gaskets and manifold) or the Dorman style intake with integrated gaskets?

[Styrofoam04]

I drove the car to work today, some bad traffic so I was going from 96-103C (217.4F) Still normal?


88C = 190F. That’s normal. Mine usually runs between 190-205

Not leaking, not in the oil, only one place left to go ...out the tailpipe.

How do I find out if its out the tailpipe?


Coolant has............
-leaked into the oil
-external leak
-seeping into cyls via head gasket or crack n burnt
If your 100% confident no external leak, might as well drive for a bit while closely monitoring coolant level. Q............how long since it was last checked?

I don't see a leak. I have a very small oil leak that I watch all the time and I don't see anything else.
Last time I checked was last year before storage. It was low but not 6L low.

-leaked into the oil
-external leak
-seeping into cyls via head gasket or crack n burnt

What do I look for?

[Laffs]

- Check your oil, if it's like a chocolate milkshake in their congrats you've got bad head gaskets or a cracked coolant passage.
- External leak would be puddles around the car, or coolant residue on the motor. Like I said before check the cylinder head valley and see if there's coolant there, under the intake manifold
- If it was seeping in to the cylinders you'd probably see white/sweet smelling smoke coming from the exhaust.

[Styrofoam04]

- Check your oil, if it's like a chocolate milkshake in their congrats you've got bad head gaskets or a cracked coolant passage.
- External leak would be puddles around the car, or coolant residue on the motor. Like I said before check the cylinder head valley and see if there's coolant there, under the intake manifold
- If it was seeping in to the cylinders you'd probably see white/sweet smelling smoke coming from the exhaust.
Thanks
How obvious is the white smoke? I don't smell anything from the rear, but I think I smell it from the front. More so on the passenger side.

Oil
https://i.postimg.cc/NG2gXKCm/20190826-120841.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NfhQkQZV/20190826-120903.jpg

[Styrofoam04]

I stand corrected.
https://i.postimg.cc/J4bMT9Lh/20190823-181438.jpg

The little spot is my oil. but the larger one behind...I dont know what that is? I dont see a colour or smell
I parked backwards so thats the drivers side. about 10 hours of sitting.

[ZR]

Time to investigate further.

[Styrofoam04]

I got it ... I'll Taste it?

[MUSTANGWOP]

Time for a visit to the ZR room.

[maxwell6]

I just went through the same problem. Turned out to be my rad,I replaced it and now no more overheating issues. My temp would creep up in traffic and cool off when on hwy. And was using up coolant. Turned out the rad was clogged or just worn out. Got me a mishimoto 2 core now my temp cools off in traffic and is consistant 190 -192 at hwy speed or cooler.

[Styrofoam04]

After some taste testing... I don't think the 2nd leak is coolant. Its clear and tasteless like water. Prolly condensate from A/C?

I'm prolly just overreacting and it just needs a good flush and cleaning. What's a good coolant cleaner and where do I get it?

[mavrrrick]

If its clear and tasteless, chances fro A/C. I had cooling system flushed at place I told you about.

[RedSN]

What some are not aware of, even not leaking a radiator gradually looses it's ability to properly transfer heat and can result in your engine running too hot.

Replace t-stat, add water-wetter, LOL, ....it always ends up being the rad.
It's almost always the rad in my experience.

[hammerhead]

with the smell noticeable on the passenger side I would suspect the heater core...but the rad could be in poor condition as well both related and likely the same age

[Styrofoam04]

Okay so i think i found it!

for weeks I checked and tested and i have never seen and pooling or drips. I was going mad! Where is my coolant going??. I took it out, brought it to work and nothing. I would put white foam-core i had lying around underneath and every time nothing (except the oil drops and condensate from the A/C)

Today I took the car to work again and when i got there i checked. At lunch i checked again. Still nothing. i guessed it was all in my head.

But... When i got home i smelled the hot coolant again. i check the coolant, the oil everything seems fine... then I go to check the foam-core and there was puddle! no drips just a puddle. I turn the car on and look again....

See for yourself

https://youtu.be/DKJAjQganIg

I'm guessing the pump?

[Old Fart]

Says video is private

[Styrofoam04]

fixed

[hammerhead]

looks like it could be water pump - can you see leaking from the top from hose clamp or thermostat housing..?

[Screw]

Good catch get busy now lol

[RedSN]

looks like it could be water pump - can you see leaking from the top from hose clamp or thermostat housing..?
Still has the plastic intake and t-stat housing? (Can’t remember when the switch to aluminum)

[hammerhead]

Still has the plastic intake and t-stat housing? (Can’t remember when the switch to aluminum)

im not sure what the new edge have - I skipped a few gens...lol

[ZR]

Yes, if still equipped, plastic intake manifold cross over (or if it's had a cheap all alum replacement) or water pump most common front leaks.

[Laffs]

If his car is an 04 it should not have the plastic crossover. When they went from Windsor production to Romeo they swapped that as well which was 01-02 I believe.

Looks like a bad water pump to me

[Styrofoam04]

I have never done anything like this and I would really like to try, but before I do something stupid.. Is there any special equipment that is needed? like a lift or special tools?

And any advice is much appreciated

[hammerhead]

Just basic hand tools really - a big drain pan - to drain the anti freeze is always good - might be a good idea to inspect the rad and possible replace hose's (hose's can sometimes be difficult to remove) a lot of patience and give yourself a day to do a good job - good luck there's lots of help here if you need advice on the way!

[hammerhead]

^^^^forgot to mention - many aluminum parts here with steel fasteners - try not to break the fasteners off if they are stuck don't force - if they are stubborn heat with a propane torch or tap lightly with a hammer to free them up ^^^^

[mavrrrick]

Hey, if you need any other tools, i got. Just ordered adapter as well, will have tomorrow if you still need.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm at Brock and Rossland area.

Sent you a text

[RedSN]

^^^^forgot to mention - many aluminum parts here with steel fasteners - try not to break the fasteners off if they are stuck don't force - if they are stubborn heat with a propane torch or tap lightly with a hammer to free them up ^^^^
Some bolts can be corroded to the point of not needing much force to break. I got to the last bolt before this happened...

https://photos.smugmug.com/94-Mustang/i-3WPbMpJ/0/e61f3ad4/M/image_zpsmx3hxouk-M.jpg
(realize this is a 302, so may not be even remotely relevant)

[Styrofoam04]

Some bolts can be corroded to the point of not needing much force to break. I got to the last bolt before this happened...

https://photos.smugmug.com/94-Mustang/i-3WPbMpJ/0/e61f3ad4/M/image_zpsmx3hxouk-M.jpg
(realize this is a 302, so may not be even remotely relevant)
Damn!? how did you get it out?

[RedSN]

Fortunately the bolt broke at the waterpump and not at the block. I was replacing the timing chain anyway, so with the timing cover plate off had plenty of threads left to weld a new nut onto it.

http://www.torontomustangclub.ca/forums/showthread.php?7900-The-RedSN-Project/page5

[hammerhead]

Some bolts can be corroded to the point of not needing much force to break. I got to the last bolt before this happened...

https://photos.smugmug.com/94-Mustang/i-3WPbMpJ/0/e61f3ad4/M/image_zpsmx3hxouk-M.jpg
(realize this is a 302, so may not be even remotely relevant)

it's always the last one...lol

[Styrofoam04]

I know I'm getting ahead of my self here but if it is the pump...is it worth it to get a high performance pump?

[ZR]

OEM Ford is best.

[Styrofoam04]

Morning gents, so today is the day I do some wrenching for my first time. Big shout out to Mavrrrick for lending me a few things. Especially the creeper... I was not looking forward to flopping around in the garage like a fat fish out of water.


Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[Styrofoam04]

2 hours later... https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190908/3321b88329aad5b4b1e49fb0ece07ceb.jpg

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[RedSN]

Easy peasy!
Nice job!


....2 hours. Show off. LOL

[True Blue]

^^^^forgot to mention - many aluminum parts here with steel fasteners - try not to break the fasteners off if they are stuck don't force - if they are stubborn heat with a propane torch or tap lightly with a hammer to free them up ^^^^

Learned this lesson the hard way on my Dakota many years ago. Snapped a bolt flush on the T-stat housing. Best part, it was located on the lower part of the engine with nearly no room to drill it out.

[hammerhead]

in the old days I charged by the beer and would of stretched that out for six and stayed for dinner...lol

[Styrofoam04]

Easy peasy!
Nice job!


....2 hours. Show off. LOL

(not including time spent on flushing, draining and filling coolant)

Speaking of which... the owners manual says that I need aboot 13L of coolant... But I could barely get in 6L. I've tried 'burping' the system, but I didn't seem to do much.

What am I missing?

[Laffs]

That's system capacity, how did you drain it? You're not going to drain all the coolant in block/heater core/etc without a pump or getting creative. If you just popped off a rad hose or replaced what leaked when you pulled the pump 6L is probably about right.

[Styrofoam04]

I've read that the drain plug should remove aboot 80% of the coolant