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If not gasket then what?


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Zandre
New User

Sep 4, 2016, 11:53 PM

Post #1 of 8 (1347 views)
If not gasket then what? Sign In

2008, ford escape,V6 150000miles

Hi i do have my coolant leaking through the over flow valve. It started like 5months ago, i just changed my water pump and thermometer last week,but still yet i am still leaking the coolant when i am driving,i do not have any over heating and my temperature gauge is working normally no white smoke. before changing my thermostat the gauge will go to the extreme left(cooling zone) and not move when i am driving,yet the engine is not heating. I saw a mechanic yesterday and he said there's no oil in the coolant,no coolant in the engine oil,no white smoke,no sign of bad gasket.The fan is working well, the car runs very well but why is the coolant leaking through the coolant reservoir? please help me, is a ford escape 2008 v6


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 5, 2016, 12:25 AM

Post #2 of 8 (1339 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In

Can you refresh that a bit please? Leaking coolant for 5 months, not overheating:


Does it leave evidence that* continues to wet an area or on ground? You must be filling it all the time or it would have lost coolant too much by now and adding more now and then?


Check the hose and tank for leaks all by themselves. Test pressure cap and the system holds pressure, engine off and cold look for an active leak.


Don't rule out a head gasket problem so fast just because of no white smoke evidence or water in oil as many or maybe most burn off coolant, over pressure systems and blow out coolant too much to recovery tanks a sign of combustion gasses getting into cooling system but usually results in overheating noticeable and quickly.


Test the heater can blow warm air with engine up to temp as it should steadily too for clues as well,


T
(edited to fix typo and clarify*)



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Sep 5, 2016, 4:45 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 5, 2016, 4:11 AM

Post #3 of 8 (1336 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In


Quote
before changing my thermostat the gauge will go to the extreme left(cooling zone) and not move when i am driving,yet the engine is not heating.


It definitely was overheating and you now likely have internal damage. You likely have a blown head gasket pushing combustion gases into the cooling system.



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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 5, 2016, 4:42 AM

Post #4 of 8 (1334 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In

Agree with Hammer Time. I also take it YOU meant "cooling zone" as the markings on a gauge.


By agree, I think you do in fact have a head gasket problem but really should prove that first. They can be erratic or slow or not show up with testing and be obvious but you really should know.


Add to some suggestions now: Do use an antifreeze mix to add coolant AND DEFINATELY DO NOT USE ANY SEALERS which will harm your car and make diagnosis that much harder plus that would have to all flushed out even if nothing was wrong!


Will go back and fix my typos in what I wrote in first note,


Tom



Zandre
New User

Sep 5, 2016, 8:48 AM

Post #5 of 8 (1324 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In

thanks for your reply,yes for more than 5months.
I would like to look in to the gasket but would 1st like to check other possible causes. what about the engine Air temperature? when starting it every morning I do get a noise.


kev2
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kev2 profile image

Sep 5, 2016, 9:04 AM

Post #6 of 8 (1321 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In

 Sounds like you want some ideas before doing a head gasket.
Add a tracer dye to coolant - Florescent type and use a black light.
Try pressure testing cooling system.
do not forget the cap -
check the reservoir for cracks and hose to system...
check into a heater core issue. carpet wet is often a clue.
look at spark plugs for a clue, a steamed cleaned appearing plug is suspect.
there are test strips to detect combustion gass in coolant.


Zandre
New User

Sep 5, 2016, 5:57 PM

Post #7 of 8 (1309 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In

just came back ,on my way out the coolant did not leak,i had the car heater was on.on my way back home i did turn of the car heater and the fluid did leak.
also when i did start the car i did get a gs smell(which i do get at time once a while and i noticed it consumes more gas). I really want to fix the issue but i need to be sure i got the right stuff,A friend did go and spend 2k to fix the head gasket only to be surprised it wasn't the head gasket. money gone. It is very tricky because i have never had any over heating ,had the engine light on for a bad thermostat,went off when it was changed. I had my ac fixed more than 5months ago and this problem started after that,can it be from there?i just want to make sure i get the right diagnosis,saw a couple of mechanics and they had different opinions and not certain.please help me?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 6, 2016, 12:20 AM

Post #8 of 8 (1305 views)
Re: If not gasket then what? Sign In

Hard to follow you precisely - sorry. You just said you smell an odor with heater it leaked? Which? If leaking can be its own problem as then it may not hold pressure.


Head gasket both just wear out in time and can quit for a while but leave evidence. There's a distinct odor of antifreeze if your are using it out tail pipes that would be very damning for a head gasket. Heater core leaking a cause for pressure loss and boiling because of lack of pressure so could be running hot in one side or end of engine and you don't know it on a gauge.
All forms of testing before blaming the head gasket has failed.


BTW - the odor is not like that of fuel but would require you are using antifreeze.


If you don't say specifically you are causing the trouble with diagnosis now. Don't use just water to fill this because it consumed it use the proper mix or say what you've done.


There's no crystal ball here what you've done only go by what you've said trying to read thru typos and sorry I must have the most here.


In short - yes it's a couple thousand buck job and being wrongs isn't funny for you or the person that made the diagnosis that didn't fix the problem - no joy there for anyone.


Waiting for a full diagnosis will likely take out the head gasket(s) and still have the source problem if something else and 5 months is way too long to wait. This was a problem to chase down right away when it happened not this long later,


T







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