Disappearing coolant.

INSTALLER020 · July 16th, 2008, 08:30 AM

I have 1990 Mustang GT. Over the last couple weeks I have been losing radiator fluid and it has been getting incresingly worse. I have a friend who is a mechanic. We pressure tested it with no leaks. There is no fluid in the oil or transmission fluid. I have replaced the radiator cap. I have noticed a couple times the fluid is bubbling out of the overflow all over the place.

My buddy says he can only think of 2 things.

1. Thermostat
2. Cracked head.

Please help me.

Matt

jrh_1980 · July 16th, 2008, 08:43 AM

makes sure that the water pump isn't locked up or hard to turn. IF your not seening any white smoke i would really doubt it's a cracked head or blown head gasket. Unless you got it really hot. do a compression test on the cylinders and that will tell ya if you have a bad gasket or head. has anyone replaced the thermostat recently. my buddy had the same problem with getting hot and it was because he put the thermostat in the wrong direction.

INSTALLER020 · July 16th, 2008, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by jrh_1980

makes sure that the water pump isn't locked up or hard to turn. IF your not seening any white smoke i would really doubt it's a cracked head or blown head gasket. Unless you got it really hot. do a compression test on the cylinders and that will tell ya if you have a bad gasket or head. has anyone replaced the thermostat recently. my buddy had the same problem with getting hot and it was because he put the thermostat in the wrong direction.

I believe that the thermostat was replaced about a year ago. It goes through it very quickly. My wife drives 35 miles each way to work. when she get's back it will say low coolant and I have to add approximately 1 gallon of water to refill it.

I alos forgot to mention it never overhets or get's much above 180 degrees.

I am thinking about swapping the Thermostat out for a new one to see what happens.

Keep the info coming, it is greatly appreciated.

Matt

p-351 · July 17th, 2008, 12:22 AM

Just for S&Gs leave the tank empty, radiator full, and unplug the sensor. Mine had a crack in the bottom of the tank and would lose coolant---never enough at one time to leave its' mark though. It drove me up the wall until I decided to say the hell with it and unplug the sensor and make sure the radiator was full myself. What do you know, the radiator stayed full!!!

I never lost as much coolant as you at one shot, but it's worth a try if you can't find a leak anywhere else.

5.0guy · July 17th, 2008, 12:53 AM

do you have any wetness on the passanger floorboard?could it maybe be a heater core?

INSTALLER020 · July 17th, 2008, 08:28 AM

P-351: I will try this.
5.0 guy: this is the first thing my budy recommended, no wetness.

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!! Frustration, LOL!!!!!

white nite · July 17th, 2008, 02:52 PM

i had a similar problem with my car, my problem was that there was a hairline crack on the lower hose opening on my radiator. i couldn't understand why it was losing fluid and i pressure checked it and it was fine. i got under the car one day and grabbed the bottom of the core support and felt something wet and then i knew it was anti-freeze. all i did was get a bottle of BARS Pelletized Radiator Sealent and poured it in the radiator, drove around the block for about 10 minutes and the leak was gone. don't know if you're problem is the same but it doesn't hurt to check the bottom of the core support for anything wet

flattusmaximus78 · July 17th, 2008, 09:28 PM

my car eats the stuff up to.... but theirs no fluids on the driveway, and I'm yet to dive under the car.

chargedmustang · July 17th, 2008, 10:30 PM

I thought headercore aswell, does your windows fog up at all with the heater on?

INSTALLER020 · July 18th, 2008, 10:26 AM

I will check under the car this weekend.

We are going to swap the thermostat just to be sure, then we will check compression, but i am convinced it has to be somewhere else.

The amount of fluid i am losing in the short amount of time is telling me it would have to be a pretty large leak.

The only tiume i ever found any radiator fluid on the ground was when it came out of the overflow container.

LOL, fun, fun, fun.

p-351 · July 18th, 2008, 02:12 PM

Have you tried leaving the tank empty and seeing if the radiator stays full yet????

INSTALLER020 · July 18th, 2008, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by p-351

Have you tried leaving the tank empty and seeing if the radiator stays full yet????

thanks.

ryans88gt · July 18th, 2008, 03:41 PM

blown head gasket or cracked head...end of story...

been down that road a time of two...bubbling out of the overflow is almost always the head gasket. You're in luck though, it is pretty easy to fix if you have about $50 and a weekend of free time.

INSTALLER020 · July 18th, 2008, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by ryans88gt

blown head gasket or cracked head...end of story...

been down that road a time of two...bubbling out of the overflow is almost always the head gasket. You're in luck though, it is pretty easy to fix if you have about $50 and a weekend of free time.

That is what my buddy thought so i guess it is time for a compression test. I guess this means a top end kit a little sooner then I had originally anticipated.

How much horse power can a stock auto traqnsmission handle?

Matt

ryans88gt · July 19th, 2008, 12:32 AM

stock transmission can handle between 200 and 600 hp. Depends on a lot of variables, the biggest of which is how you drive it and what kind of tires and clutch you have.

Aggressive powershifting, sticky tires, and grabby clutches are the hardest things on T5s.

INSTALLER020 · July 19th, 2008, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by ryans88gt

stock transmission can handle between 200 and 600 hp. Depends on a lot of variables, the biggest of which is how you drive it and what kind of tires and clutch you have.

Aggressive powershifting, sticky tires, and grabby clutches are the hardest things on T5s.

So if I am planning on maxing out at around 350 RHP, I should be fine with the stock auto tranny.

Thanks,
Matt

TKOTLARZ · July 19th, 2008, 04:29 PM

its not so much hp the destroys tranny's..its the amount of torque the motor produces, and size of tires

INSTALLER020 · July 20th, 2008, 09:45 AM

thanks everyone!!

tmoss · July 20th, 2008, 12:30 PM

do the cylindr pressure test. if that is not it, don't forget that water can leak out of the EGR spacer and enter the engine where it will not show up on the ground.

ryans88gt · July 20th, 2008, 01:15 PM

^^^that's true, but overflowing coolant bottle means cylinder pressure is pushing coolant out. A leaking EGR spacer will not push coolant out of the radiator.

July 16th, 2008, 08:30 AM	#1
INSTALLER020 Regular 90 Mustang GT Convertible Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 77 iTrader: 0 reviews	Disappearing coolant. I have 1990 Mustang GT. Over the last couple weeks I have been losing radiator fluid and it has been getting incresingly worse. I have a friend who is a mechanic. We pressure tested it with no leaks. There is no fluid in the oil or transmission fluid. I have replaced the radiator cap. I have noticed a couple times the fluid is bubbling out of the overflow all over the place. My buddy says he can only think of 2 things. 1. Thermostat 2. Cracked head. Please help me. Matt

July 17th, 2008, 12:53 AM	#5
5.0guy Regular 1990 foxbody 14.8@98mph Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: archer,fl Posts: 60 iTrader: 0 reviews	do you have any wetness on the passanger floorboard?could it maybe be a heater core? __________________ your always faster then the guy in the mirror

July 17th, 2008, 09:28 PM	#8
flattusmaximus78 I Post Entirely Way Too Much 1993 5.ohhhh 12.97 @140mph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gatorland Posts: 6,122 iTrader: 3 reviews	my car eats the stuff up to.... but theirs no fluids on the driveway, and I'm yet to dive under the car. __________________ 02 Pewter z28, hoosiers/lid/exhaust/spray...125mph 1993 gt Sold, already missed --Moates Quarter horse $225-- --Cobra intake $150-- --tremec 3550 bell and shifter $1100--

July 17th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#9
chargedmustang Newbie 1991 Mustang GT Cobra Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Victoria B.C Canada Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	I thought headercore aswell, does your windows fog up at all with the heater on? __________________ 1991 Mustang GT Cobra Paxton Supercharged

July 18th, 2008, 10:26 AM	#10
INSTALLER020 Regular 90 Mustang GT Convertible Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 77 iTrader: 0 reviews	Reply. I will check under the car this weekend. We are going to swap the thermostat just to be sure, then we will check compression, but i am convinced it has to be somewhere else. The amount of fluid i am losing in the short amount of time is telling me it would have to be a pretty large leak. The only tiume i ever found any radiator fluid on the ground was when it came out of the overflow container. LOL, fun, fun, fun.

Disappearing coolant.

Disappearing coolant.

Reply.

Reply.

I will try that tonight.

Thanks.

Thanks man.

Thanks fpr the input.

July 16th, 2008, 08:43 AM	#2
jrh_1980 Regular 89 Mustang LX 7.90@90mph 8th Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Macomb, Illinois Posts: 151 iTrader: 1 reviews	makes sure that the water pump isn't locked up or hard to turn. IF your not seening any white smoke i would really doubt it's a cracked head or blown head gasket. Unless you got it really hot. do a compression test on the cylinders and that will tell ya if you have a bad gasket or head. has anyone replaced the thermostat recently. my buddy had the same problem with getting hot and it was because he put the thermostat in the wrong direction.

July 17th, 2008, 12:22 AM	#4
p-351 Regular 90&94 GTs; 79&91 Broncos Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fargo Posts: 307 iTrader: 1 reviews	Just for S&Gs leave the tank empty, radiator full, and unplug the sensor. Mine had a crack in the bottom of the tank and would lose coolant---never enough at one time to leave its' mark though. It drove me up the wall until I decided to say the hell with it and unplug the sensor and make sure the radiator was full myself. What do you know, the radiator stayed full!!! I never lost as much coolant as you at one shot, but it's worth a try if you can't find a leak anywhere else.

July 17th, 2008, 08:28 AM	#6
INSTALLER020 Regular 90 Mustang GT Convertible Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 77 iTrader: 0 reviews	P-351: I will try this. 5.0 guy: this is the first thing my budy recommended, no wetness. AAARRRGGGHHH!!!! Frustration, LOL!!!!!

July 17th, 2008, 02:52 PM	#7
white nite Regular 1987 mustang lx 5.0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: El Paso, tx Posts: 82 iTrader: 0 reviews	i had a similar problem with my car, my problem was that there was a hairline crack on the lower hose opening on my radiator. i couldn't understand why it was losing fluid and i pressure checked it and it was fine. i got under the car one day and grabbed the bottom of the core support and felt something wet and then i knew it was anti-freeze. all i did was get a bottle of BARS Pelletized Radiator Sealent and poured it in the radiator, drove around the block for about 10 minutes and the leak was gone. don't know if you're problem is the same but it doesn't hurt to check the bottom of the core support for anything wet

July 18th, 2008, 02:12 PM	#11
p-351 Regular 90&94 GTs; 79&91 Broncos Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fargo Posts: 307 iTrader: 1 reviews	Have you tried leaving the tank empty and seeing if the radiator stays full yet????

July 18th, 2008, 03:41 PM	#13
ryans88gt MM Fanatic Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 4,737 iTrader: 0 reviews	blown head gasket or cracked head...end of story... been down that road a time of two...bubbling out of the overflow is almost always the head gasket. You're in luck though, it is pretty easy to fix if you have about $50 and a weekend of free time. __________________ 88 GT CHI headed 351w 10.8 @ 125 - still figuring it out. 03 Cobra 2.3 whipple 10.7 @ 129 - sold it 04 Mach 1 12.7 @ 109 mostly stock - sold it 89 LX procharged 302 515 hp 497 ftlbs 10.7 @130 mph - sold it

July 19th, 2008, 12:32 AM	#15
ryans88gt MM Fanatic Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 4,737 iTrader: 0 reviews	stock transmission can handle between 200 and 600 hp. Depends on a lot of variables, the biggest of which is how you drive it and what kind of tires and clutch you have. Aggressive powershifting, sticky tires, and grabby clutches are the hardest things on T5s. __________________ 88 GT CHI headed 351w 10.8 @ 125 - still figuring it out. 03 Cobra 2.3 whipple 10.7 @ 129 - sold it 04 Mach 1 12.7 @ 109 mostly stock - sold it 89 LX procharged 302 515 hp 497 ftlbs 10.7 @130 mph - sold it

July 19th, 2008, 04:29 PM	#17
TKOTLARZ Hardcore Enthusiast 1994 GT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: lake worth, Florida Posts: 1,002 iTrader: 0 reviews	its not so much hp the destroys tranny's..its the amount of torque the motor produces, and size of tires __________________ Cohagan Engineering, Inc.

July 20th, 2008, 09:45 AM	#18
INSTALLER020 Regular 90 Mustang GT Convertible Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 77 iTrader: 0 reviews	Thanks fpr the input. thanks everyone!!

July 20th, 2008, 12:30 PM	#19
tmoss Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St Louis, Mo Posts: 382 iTrader: 0 reviews	do the cylindr pressure test. if that is not it, don't forget that water can leak out of the EGR spacer and enter the engine where it will not show up on the ground. __________________ 88 GT Vert 5spd, 3:73 gears, Explorer intake/65mm TB, Explorer Ps, Manley race 1.85/1.55 valves, 1.7/1.6 stud rockers, stock cam +4 degrees, MAC Jet-Hot coated shorties. 277RWHP/330RWTQ www.fastlanecars.com http://tmossporting.0catch.com/

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July 20th, 2008, 01:15 PM	#20
ryans88gt MM Fanatic Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 4,737 iTrader: 0 reviews	^^^that's true, but overflowing coolant bottle means cylinder pressure is pushing coolant out. A leaking EGR spacer will not push coolant out of the radiator. __________________ 88 GT CHI headed 351w 10.8 @ 125 - still figuring it out. 03 Cobra 2.3 whipple 10.7 @ 129 - sold it 04 Mach 1 12.7 @ 109 mostly stock - sold it 89 LX procharged 302 515 hp 497 ftlbs 10.7 @130 mph - sold it

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