Marvial
Active Member
- Joined
- December 26, 2009
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Gothenburg
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- Ford explorer '94 and '00
Hi,
We have a -94 ford explorer that behaves strange and where we suspect
either a head gasket failure or a head crack.
The problem is not persistent, but comes and goes. When we drive it the
truck has ample power and runs smooth. When we stop, sometimes we
can hear and see bubbles going to the coolant reservoir.
Sometimes the problem is gone, and we have run the truck successfully
for hours.
At least twice we have had a problem with large loss of coolant and
overheating.
Strange observations is that if we leave the truck overnight, we still
have positive pressure in the radiator and cooling system, so there is
not a permanent leak.
We have run compression tests, which shows up all cylinders in the 11.0
to 11.5 range except cylinder 3, passenger side rear, which has 9.5.
This is with a minimum margin BUT within specifications
A squirt of oil in the cylinder does not change compression radically.
We have replaced the thermostat. We have removed the water pump, which
looks OK, and reinstalled it with new gasket. We have replaced the
temperature sender (gauge).
WE get oscillations in temperature when the truck has been unused for a
few days, i.e. temperature rises to the letter R in NORMAL, then drops
suddenly all the way down to C, again gains , again drops. If run for
more than half an hour, these oscillations stop, and the temperature
seems to stabilize at the letter O in NORMAL.
Now for our question:
Is there something EXCEPT a blown head gasket that would cause those
sympthoms, or should we just accept the fact and tear down the right
head? (or both heads)?
We have hesitated tearing down the heads since the cost of spares and
gasket set is USD 500 - 1000 in Sweden, which is more or less the price
of the truck. (And, that is not F**d, its aftermarket)
All comments gratefully accepted...
Isn't life all about Exploring??
We have a -94 ford explorer that behaves strange and where we suspect
either a head gasket failure or a head crack.
The problem is not persistent, but comes and goes. When we drive it the
truck has ample power and runs smooth. When we stop, sometimes we
can hear and see bubbles going to the coolant reservoir.
Sometimes the problem is gone, and we have run the truck successfully
for hours.
At least twice we have had a problem with large loss of coolant and
overheating.
Strange observations is that if we leave the truck overnight, we still
have positive pressure in the radiator and cooling system, so there is
not a permanent leak.
We have run compression tests, which shows up all cylinders in the 11.0
to 11.5 range except cylinder 3, passenger side rear, which has 9.5.
This is with a minimum margin BUT within specifications
A squirt of oil in the cylinder does not change compression radically.
We have replaced the thermostat. We have removed the water pump, which
looks OK, and reinstalled it with new gasket. We have replaced the
temperature sender (gauge).
WE get oscillations in temperature when the truck has been unused for a
few days, i.e. temperature rises to the letter R in NORMAL, then drops
suddenly all the way down to C, again gains , again drops. If run for
more than half an hour, these oscillations stop, and the temperature
seems to stabilize at the letter O in NORMAL.
Now for our question:
Is there something EXCEPT a blown head gasket that would cause those
sympthoms, or should we just accept the fact and tear down the right
head? (or both heads)?
We have hesitated tearing down the heads since the cost of spares and
gasket set is USD 500 - 1000 in Sweden, which is more or less the price
of the truck. (And, that is not F**d, its aftermarket)
All comments gratefully accepted...
Isn't life all about Exploring??
