Radiator help!

Gstang · February 11th, 2009, 07:16 PM

I drive an 88' Mustang GT, i'm not actually driving it because i can't figure out what the problem is with my radiator. So there is sits in my backyard by the garage. I'll completely fill my radiator with 50/50 antifreeze and water, I can drive that whole day and my heater with blow warm air (winter's just getting over, it was cold.. ha) But then the next day i'll look and there isn't anything in there. We tested my radiator to see if it held pressure and it did but no signs of any leaks. What do I need to do? Thx

HMUSN · February 11th, 2009, 07:18 PM

do a compression test and check your oil. Any smoke coming from your pipes?

Gstang · February 11th, 2009, 07:24 PM

How would u do a compression test? I've already checked my oil (it's not milky).
There is an excess of white smoke coming from my exhaust.

HMUSN · February 11th, 2009, 07:27 PM

sounds like you blew a head gasket honestly. you have to pull a plug at a time and check each cylinders compression individually. ( by cranking the motor and hooking up a pis gauge) If there is a difference of 20 or so psi in any cylinder odds are you need to replace that gasket.

Gstang · February 11th, 2009, 10:54 PM

One of my friends is in auto and said that i should take it there and hook it up like that. Would I be better off getting a pair for both sides?

baine21225 · February 11th, 2009, 11:17 PM

sounds like a blown head gasket, i'd replace both if they are not new, sort of preventative maintenance per say

hopper · February 12th, 2009, 08:45 AM

i agree with with the compression test. However this does not alway mean there will be antifreeze in the oil. I had this happen and after about a month of searching i found a cracked cylender wall. it will just blow by and no one would be the wiser.
It "should" blow white out the ass end though. but mine did not aswell.

grnstang · February 12th, 2009, 11:05 AM

yeah, replace both gaskets but inspect your engine while you're at it...that doesnt sound like fun. how many miles are on your car?

flamedstang95 · February 12th, 2009, 11:47 AM

It could also be an external head gasket leak where the gasket blew out instead of into your cylinder walls. It could be leaking somewhere and you can't even see it. Fill your radiator up again and this time don't tighten your cap all the way. This will keep the pressure off and you shouldn't lose much antifreeze. Let us know how you make out.

flyin ryan · February 12th, 2009, 11:52 AM

my money is on a head gasket

Gstang · February 12th, 2009, 10:56 PM

it's got 155,462 miles.. We hooked it up to the psi gauge and everything seemed to be fine... The auto teacher said that it looked like my radiator might have been cracked. I honestly couldn't tell if it was though. The pressure is at 16psi. And tomorrow i'll have to let it sit, because there isn't antifreeze left.

Arctic Fox · February 13th, 2009, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Gstang

There is an excess of white smoke coming from my exhaust.

That is a good sign telling that there is antifreeze burning in cylinders. My money is on head gasket

Gstang · February 14th, 2009, 12:16 AM

The compression test was good though. Should I have my Radiator Compressed and check my hoses and clamps?

Arctic Fox · February 14th, 2009, 04:50 AM

Sure you could, but if you're losing coolant and getting white smoke from the exhaust i say one way or another its leaking to cylinders. Usually head gasket or cracked head. May also be intake gasket, that way it wouldn't show on compression test.

baine21225 · February 14th, 2009, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Sure you could, but if you're losing coolant and getting white smoke from the exhaust i say one way or another its leaking to cylinders. Usually head gasket or cracked head. May also be intake gasket, that way it wouldn't show on compression test.

+1

gotn20 · February 14th, 2009, 02:24 PM

do the dye leak test you can buy em at any parts store

Gstang · February 17th, 2009, 10:36 PM

I still haven't figured out what's wrong. Partly because I'm on sort of a tight budget right now. I've yanked out my Radiator and inspected it. Can't really find anything out of the ordinary. I probably should replace my radiator and hoses though. ha kinda old...

JcSurge311 · February 18th, 2009, 01:19 AM

have you checked your water pump and timing cover i know ive seen alot being blowing those gaskets easy

Gstang · February 18th, 2009, 06:16 PM

Apparently my Radiator is cracked. I'm going to get a 2row radiator and some new hoses also. I'll get some pics when i get around to it! Kinda broke right now. ha

HMUSN · February 19th, 2009, 07:33 AM

That is a very easy fix. If you need any help on the install feel free to hit us up. You should upgrade ( if you have not already) to an electric fan while you are in there taking things apart.

February 11th, 2009, 07:16 PM	#1
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	Radiator help! I drive an 88' Mustang GT, i'm not actually driving it because i can't figure out what the problem is with my radiator. So there is sits in my backyard by the garage. I'll completely fill my radiator with 50/50 antifreeze and water, I can drive that whole day and my heater with blow warm air (winter's just getting over, it was cold.. ha) But then the next day i'll look and there isn't anything in there. We tested my radiator to see if it held pressure and it did but no signs of any leaks. What do I need to do? Thx

February 11th, 2009, 07:18 PM	#2
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	do a compression test and check your oil. Any smoke coming from your pipes? __________________

February 11th, 2009, 07:27 PM	#4
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	sounds like you blew a head gasket honestly. you have to pull a plug at a time and check each cylinders compression individually. ( by cranking the motor and hooking up a pis gauge) If there is a difference of 20 or so psi in any cylinder odds are you need to replace that gasket. __________________

February 11th, 2009, 11:17 PM	#6
baine21225 MM Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 4,349 iTrader: 1 reviews	sounds like a blown head gasket, i'd replace both if they are not new, sort of preventative maintenance per say __________________ "That's how Dad did it, that's how America does it... and it's worked out pretty well so far..."

February 12th, 2009, 11:05 AM	#8
grnstang Hardcore Enthusiast 91 LX 13.7@101 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Norwalk OH Posts: 1,426 iTrader: 1 reviews	yeah, replace both gaskets but inspect your engine while you're at it...that doesnt sound like fun. how many miles are on your car? __________________

February 11th, 2009, 07:24 PM	#3
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	How would u do a compression test? I've already checked my oil (it's not milky). There is an excess of white smoke coming from my exhaust.

February 11th, 2009, 10:54 PM	#5
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	One of my friends is in auto and said that i should take it there and hook it up like that. Would I be better off getting a pair for both sides?

February 12th, 2009, 08:45 AM	#7
hopper Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 390 iTrader: 0 reviews	i agree with with the compression test. However this does not alway mean there will be antifreeze in the oil. I had this happen and after about a month of searching i found a cracked cylender wall. it will just blow by and no one would be the wiser. It "should" blow white out the ass end though. but mine did not aswell.

February 12th, 2009, 11:47 AM	#9
flamedstang95 Regular 1995 Mustang GT Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Magnolia, DE Posts: 386 iTrader: 0 reviews	It could also be an external head gasket leak where the gasket blew out instead of into your cylinder walls. It could be leaking somewhere and you can't even see it. Fill your radiator up again and this time don't tighten your cap all the way. This will keep the pressure off and you shouldn't lose much antifreeze. Let us know how you make out. __________________ See garage for mods

February 12th, 2009, 11:52 AM	#10
flyin ryan Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,387 iTrader: 0 reviews	my money is on a head gasket

February 12th, 2009, 10:56 PM	#11
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	it's got 155,462 miles.. We hooked it up to the psi gauge and everything seemed to be fine... The auto teacher said that it looked like my radiator might have been cracked. I honestly couldn't tell if it was though. The pressure is at 16psi. And tomorrow i'll have to let it sit, because there isn't antifreeze left.

February 14th, 2009, 12:16 AM	#13
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	The compression test was good though. Should I have my Radiator Compressed and check my hoses and clamps?

February 14th, 2009, 04:50 AM	#14
Arctic Fox Enthusiast 1989 GT KB 2.1L Flowzilla Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Old World Posts: 540 iTrader: 0 reviews	Sure you could, but if you're losing coolant and getting white smoke from the exhaust i say one way or another its leaking to cylinders. Usually head gasket or cracked head. May also be intake gasket, that way it wouldn't show on compression test.

February 14th, 2009, 02:24 PM	#16
gotn20 Atomized Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,370 iTrader: 0 reviews	do the dye leak test you can buy em at any parts store

February 17th, 2009, 10:36 PM	#17
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	I still haven't figured out what's wrong. Partly because I'm on sort of a tight budget right now. I've yanked out my Radiator and inspected it. Can't really find anything out of the ordinary. I probably should replace my radiator and hoses though. ha kinda old...

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February 18th, 2009, 01:19 AM	#18
JcSurge311 Regular 1990 Mustang GT Hatchback Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calhoun, Ga Posts: 181 iTrader: 0 reviews	have you checked your water pump and timing cover i know ive seen alot being blowing those gaskets easy __________________ there can only be one....

February 18th, 2009, 06:16 PM	#19
Gstang Newbie 1988 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Watertown, SD Posts: 13 iTrader: 0 reviews	Apparently my Radiator is cracked. I'm going to get a 2row radiator and some new hoses also. I'll get some pics when i get around to it! Kinda broke right now. ha

February 19th, 2009, 07:33 AM	#20
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	That is a very easy fix. If you need any help on the install feel free to hit us up. You should upgrade ( if you have not already) to an electric fan while you are in there taking things apart. __________________

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