mekelly
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- October 13, 2014
- Messages
- 181
- Reaction score
- 4
- City, State
- Marietta, GA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1994 Ford Explorer XLT
I noticed that the coolant level was low in reservoir bottle on my 1994 explorer. I couldn't see any obvious leaks anywhere so I thought I'd start the engine and let it heat up and pressurize to see if I could find any leak points.
I started the engine (it was cold, hadn't been started that day yet) and noticed that coolant immediately started leaking between the upper radiator hose and the radiator (where they connect). It was coming out between the hose and radiator connection as if under pressure. I opened the radiator cap and coolant started bubbling out.
I shut the engine off, put the radiator cap back on and re tightened the upper radiator hose clamp.
This was about 2 weeks ago or so. It has not happened again although the fluid level has dropped some more in the reservoir bottle.
There's no coolant in the oil that I can tell and no oil in the coolant. The engine never gets hot, the temperature gauge is in the 'N' to 'O' range where it's always been. I don't really smell coolant burning in the exhaust, the exhaust isn't blowing white smoke.
I replaced the thermostat, water pump, radiator hoses, heater hoses, temperature sender and temperature sensor recently.
I am guessing a blown head gasket or cracked head but the engine temperature is spot on. That's with running the A/C for the first time this season and temps in the low 80's.
Is there any other plausible diagnosis? Any other tests I can run or things to check? Rent a coolant pressure tester, check plugs for coolant?
It's definitely loosing coolant but other than that one episode, I can't find any.
I started the engine (it was cold, hadn't been started that day yet) and noticed that coolant immediately started leaking between the upper radiator hose and the radiator (where they connect). It was coming out between the hose and radiator connection as if under pressure. I opened the radiator cap and coolant started bubbling out.
I shut the engine off, put the radiator cap back on and re tightened the upper radiator hose clamp.
This was about 2 weeks ago or so. It has not happened again although the fluid level has dropped some more in the reservoir bottle.
There's no coolant in the oil that I can tell and no oil in the coolant. The engine never gets hot, the temperature gauge is in the 'N' to 'O' range where it's always been. I don't really smell coolant burning in the exhaust, the exhaust isn't blowing white smoke.
I replaced the thermostat, water pump, radiator hoses, heater hoses, temperature sender and temperature sensor recently.
I am guessing a blown head gasket or cracked head but the engine temperature is spot on. That's with running the A/C for the first time this season and temps in the low 80's.
Is there any other plausible diagnosis? Any other tests I can run or things to check? Rent a coolant pressure tester, check plugs for coolant?
It's definitely loosing coolant but other than that one episode, I can't find any.