wesalexleft
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- August 2, 2009
- Messages
- 148
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Memphis, TN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 Mountaineer V8 4.6L
4.6L Mounty with slow coolant loss. I put dye in the coolant and pressurized it to 15 LBS to find any leaks. I left it overnight and the pressure had dropped to 13 pounds by morning. I pumped it to 15 again and let it sit all through work. When I got home, it was down to 13 again and I'd lost about 1/2" total from the degas tank in 24 hours. I checked the oil and the level was higher. I drained the oil, and there is coolant there. I tried to do a combustion gas test in the coolant system, but the loaner tool was clogged to the point that I couldn't get it to work. I'm going to another store tomorrow to get another and try that again, but wondered what other ways coolant can get in oil other than head gasket. Is it possible the oil cooler on these can mix, or that it would have leaked from the intake?? A little history...it was losing coolant so I'd gone over it really well. Found a small leak from the intake on the drivers rear side, so I replaced the intake and gaskets. Im not saying I'm sure it's not leaking, but I thought I did a good job. There is no white smoke at normal driving, it runs well-no codes, and doesn't run hot. The coolant system isn't getting to high pressure either. Before replacing the intake, I'd done a combustion gas test and it was negative. Since doing that, I've started to doubt the fluid on the first test, so I'll be doing another. After the 24 hour coolant pressure test, I did get a very little white smoke that lasted about one minute at idle before going away.