losing coolant- head gasket?

[Plastic Paddy]

Hi
I have a 2006 explorer with around 90,000 km's. I bought from a Ford dealership about six months ago with a warranty.
I had an oil change and fluid top up carried out at a small independent shop around 3,000 km back. The temprature at night here has been down to 20 below a few times this week. I recently started getting the temp gauge jumping up and down, on the highway yesterday it shot up and the warning light came on, I turned the heater on and it droped way down. I left at the next exit, stopped at Canadian tire, lifted the hood to find the plastic container empty, picked up 1 us gal of coolant and put in about 3/4 to bring it up to the fill line. Then drove home around 20 miles.
This morning the level had dropped to the bottom. There is no fluid on the floor of the garage, the oil on the dipstick was very dark so do I asume that the coolant is getting into the oil and if that is the case is the head gasket the only way this can happen?
I never lift the hood, I have always had good friends in the trade to pay for there skills, I am now living with an ocean between me and them, and would appreciate any input.

 

[swshawaii]

There is no fluid on the floor of the garage, the oil on the dipstick was very dark so do I asume that the coolant is getting into the oil and if that is the case is the head gasket the only way this can happen?

Water and coolant in the oil will appear a milky white color.
Have the system pressure tested, it's being lost somewhere. GL

 

[Plastic Paddy]

loseing coolant-head gasket?

Hi
The cooling systems are filled with chemicals, no water at all due to being sub zero for long period's. There fore I was not sure about the colour?
Thank's

 

[swshawaii]

What "chemicals" other than antifreeze? Water wetter or stop leak maybe?

 

[DAT05EXPLODER]

is it still under the warranty?

 

[Plastic Paddy]

Hi
The "chemicals" are Prestone coolant/ antifreeze.
It is still under warranty.
I like to have some understanding about the risks of driving around as it stands. Dealing with a busy dealership will take a few days to set things up, have work carried out etc. If I am going to be with out it for a few days I need to be able to get around to customers or re schedule jobs so as not to let people down. Thanks

 

[swshawaii]

Next to running without oil, overheating is one of the worst things for your engine.

If you must drive, do NOT allow the temp to reach high. Loaner car for warranty? GL

 

[Plastic Paddy]

Hi

The issue only showed up when the shop did a pressure test, as has been posted here before.
I am taking it to the Ford dealership in the morning, they tell me it is covered by the warranty but not damage from stones. If I was a gambling man how much should I bet on them claiming stone damage?
Maybe I'm just a cynic.
Thanks for the advise.

 

[White97Jimmy]

It's not from stones. It's a very common issue. Look at the threads posted in this section. I just got my truck back today from the stealership for a radiator replacement.

 

[Plastic Paddy]

Hi

How it works, they email a photo of the leaking rad to ford, who then decide if they will cover the replacement or not. They leak was on the engine side so it was not stone damage and they are going to replace it for me with a $100.00 deductable.
This is why I got the warranty, work is always quiet for us at this time of year so this helps a lot.
I didn't take the loner as we have a work truck so we can get around to our jobs, my son just called to say that it won't start, I have a booster unit that is in the back of the EX in the dealership, is it going to be one of those days?