Disappearing water - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Bent EA · 02-25-2003, 04:48

Hi, My EA has been using water ever since i got it (about 9 months ago) and it has been getting progressively worse. It is at the stage now where every 300km i am putting about 3 litres of water in the car. Also recently the car has begun runnging rough, misfiring and being really down on power. I am wondering if these 2 things are related. The spark plugs are only a couple of months old. I just ran Injector cleaner through the car and it did nothing to alleviate the problem. A fella who does most of the work on my car for me (mates rates) had a look at the car and cant find the problem. I suspected the head gasket however he did some sort of test which checks for exhaust gasses in the water or something and he says the head gasket is fine. He pressure tested the radiator and says he could not get it to leak. He suggested the injector cleaner to fix the rough running / missing / lack of power but it hasnt helped. Any ideas on what the problem is?

6pAc|30nG|00n · 02-25-2003, 05:17

Maybe a leak in the cooling system somewhere but it sounds much more like a buggered head gasket maybe get the cooling system pressure tested or something to c if its a leak or whatever

TopGhia · 02-25-2003, 13:12

Any white sweet smelling smoke on start-up?
Do the plugs look steam cleaned?
Is it overheating?
Does it start rough after sitting for 20mins or so after a good run?
Water in oil? Oil in water?

You said your mate checked for exhaust gasses and did a pressure test. If it is losing water, it is either going out on the ground or through the engine.

Good luck with it, let us know what happens.

Bent EA · 02-25-2003, 19:36

Yes i get white sweet smelling smoke on start up. No water in oil or oil in water. Doesnt overheat unless i forget to fill the water up regularly and it gets very low. Spark plugs are dirty (injectors??) Starts rough any time it has been stopped for over 15 mins or so. Is it possibly the head gasket is gone but isnt causing exhuast gasses in the coolant or where ever? I am pretty lost for ideas and would appreciate any suggestions

taximan · 02-26-2003, 03:38

sounds like the head gasket is gone and it is leaking coolant through the exhaust valves,I have had this twice and never got coolant in the oil

TA22-3SGTE · 02-26-2003, 05:22

After it has been sitting overnight start it up and turn it off straight away then pull the plugs out and look for signs of water on the plugs if any water it is the head gasket , Another very common place for the ford 6's to lose water is the heater valve hanging at the left rear of the motor .

Carlsworld · 02-28-2003, 19:36

My EL had the same mystery, found it was the head gasket. It was actually leaking externally, but with so much clutter in the way took me a month and a half to find it. Also been told the pipe pressed onto the back of the water pump can seep without showing a lot of evidence.

Carl

crYnOid · 02-28-2003, 23:47

I have had, and am still having, the same problem. I have been going through about 3L of coolant per week at its peak but I am nearly on top of it now. My first problem was that the paper gasket between the head and thermostat housing wasn't sealing to well. When the car was hot you could open the bonnet and see bubbles as well as hear a sizzling noise as the coolant touched the head and evaporated. That was fixed with a metal gasket and gasket sealant, now there is no more leak from there. Other leak is from between the thermostat housing cover and housing itself. Having used a sealant between the two it only seals for maybe a day until the coolant makes its way out. When the engine is hot there is no visible leak, but when cold I used a cloth to wipe up the coolant and watched where it was coming out from. I believe it is because the thermostat housing cover is not flat so have got a new one and got a new radiator cap to make sure that isn't a problem too. That should fix my problems I hope.

Bent EA · 03-05-2003, 17:00

The problem has finally bveen identified as a cracked head. *cries* Im picking the car up tomorrow $500 out of pocket but with the problem hopefully fixed. Thanks for the suggestions evryone, they were much appreciated.

tickfordboy · 03-05-2003, 21:06

seems to me like everyone elses theory, head gasket. i have had one issue where the gas converter on my car warped on me and a leak was going through the converter and into the mixer, however, she ran very very rough and it was obvious when i pulled the air filter out from the water sitting in the air box. I think personally it is head gasket.