Fordmods Logo

Leaking coolant but it's not visible 

 

Page 1 of 1 [ 9 posts ] 

 
 Post subject: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:19 pm 
Stock as a Rock
Offline

Posts: 145

Joined: 4th Aug 2010

Ride: BA Ghia '03

I recently changed over radiators and have noticed that I'm still leaking somehow, but it's not a visible leak. I've checked the pipes to and from the radiator to the block and it's not wet or anything. I know this because the coolant in the reservoir goes down and I have had to top it up a few times since I changed the radiator last Friday. I also changed the thermostat when I changed the radiator.

Today I noticed a bit of coolant leaking from the thermostat housing, and it was on there tight enough as it is, so I'm not sure how a few drops was leaked out.

Since changing radiators, every time I start my car, it doesn't idle that well, and when I try to take off, it won't go as far and it makes splutter like noises. It sorts itself out after a few minutes however. Not to mention a bit of white smoke pours out but that has been like that for a while now. It was been taking off fine before the radiator change, I may not have bleed out all the air correctly?

I was told to take it to a radiator specialist place but I wanted to know if anyone here knew if the problem was obvious and how I should go about fixing it. I really hope it's not a blown head gasket...

Sorry if that was too long, just trying to give as much detail as possible.
Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:33 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 59

Posts: 1072

Joined: 6th Jul 2006

Gallery: 13 images

Ride: BA Falcon

Power: 106 rwkw

Location: Craigmore
SA, Australia

I would suspect you have a blown head gasket.....

 

_________________

2003 BA Falcon Egas Taxi Pack - XR Replica
Tpak MKII Build Thread

1984 ZL Fairlane
The Project

Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:43 pm 
Stock as a Rock
Offline

Age: 39

Posts: 141

Joined: 17th Jun 2006

Ride: Falcon

Location: canberra
ACT, Australia

Definetly symptoms of a head gasket fault

 

_________________

Fords Rule. OK.

Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:47 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 35

Posts: 4316

Joined: 30th Oct 2006

Gallery: 18 images

Ride: Envi EF

Location: Grafton
NSW, Australia

+1 for headgasket

 

_________________

>>>EF Futura T build<<<

Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:51 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 45

Posts: 841

Joined: 20th Feb 2010

Gallery: 2 images

Ride: AU Fairmont Ghia

Location: Elizibif Norf (Local Spelling!!)
SA, Australia

Yup I'd go with head gasket, check your oil dipstick for 'caramel' colored oil (water in the oil). The new radiator probably increased pressure in the cooling system (compared to the old rad, especially if it was leaking badly) and was just enough to push through the old head gasket.

 

_________________

dc_todd wrote:
Cheap pads squeal like cheap hookers, and you can take that to the bank.


Au Fairmont Ghia
My (Old) 95 EF Wagon

Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:53 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Posts: 6113

Joined: 8th May 2007

water loss combined with rough idle doesnt sound good

but i have seen an AU which was dumping all its water from the header tank, fixed by replacing thermostat & radiator cap..........
Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:10 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Age: 36

Posts: 1434

Joined: 14th Jul 2008

Gallery: 1 images

Ride: Falcon EF Gli

Location: Melbourne
VIC, Australia

krisisdog wrote:
+1 for headgasket


+1

 

_________________

AsIzZy

My Build Thread:
post994940.html#p994940

For Sale Thread 1
forums/viewtopic.php?t=70845&highlight=

Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:11 pm 
Stock as a Rock
Offline

Posts: 145

Joined: 4th Aug 2010

Ride: BA Ghia '03

Esteven8 wrote:
Yup I'd go with head gasket, check your oil dipstick for 'caramel' colored oil (water in the oil). The new radiator probably increased pressure in the cooling system (compared to the old rad, especially if it was leaking badly) and was just enough to push through the old head gasket.

The oil looks fine.

I did fear for the worst :/ I'll be getting another head hopefully soon, I'll be able to change the head gasket then, right?
Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Re: Leaking coolant but it's not visible
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:59 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 45

Posts: 841

Joined: 20th Feb 2010

Gallery: 2 images

Ride: AU Fairmont Ghia

Location: Elizibif Norf (Local Spelling!!)
SA, Australia

Tech90 wrote:
Esteven8 wrote:
Yup I'd go with head gasket, check your oil dipstick for 'caramel' colored oil (water in the oil). The new radiator probably increased pressure in the cooling system (compared to the old rad, especially if it was leaking badly) and was just enough to push through the old head gasket.

The oil looks fine.

I did fear for the worst :/ I'll be getting another head hopefully soon, I'll be able to change the head gasket then, right?

The sooner the better mate, while the car might be running now it WILL get worse and, no doubt blow through completely at the worst possible time. Leaving you stranded, most likely causing more problems and in turn cost you more $$ to fix. If it were me I'd be looking for alternative transport 'till you swap the heads, or replace the gasket now if you need your car.
Bright side of that, when you swap the heads over you'll have already had practice, and an idea of whats involved. :)

 

_________________

dc_todd wrote:
Cheap pads squeal like cheap hookers, and you can take that to the bank.


Au Fairmont Ghia
My (Old) 95 EF Wagon

Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:
Sort by  
 Page 1 of 1  [ 9 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot] and 42 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

 

 

It is currently Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:30 pm All times are UTC + 11 hours

 

 

(c)2014 Total Web Solutions Australia - Australian Web Hosting and Domain Names