96 3.8L 6 overheating & most everything changed
12-27-2010, 08:45 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3
96 3.8L 6 overheating & most everything changed
Question, for the last 10 months my stang has been overheating. First I replaced the thermostat, then then the radiator, hoses (top/bottom), fuses, it's been cleared of air bubbles 4 times (after each repair) and now it's leaking anti-freeze and overheating according to the gauge but the radiator cap isn't hot. I'm replacing the cap tonight and wondering if the heater core needs to be next. It has 138k miles and other than the overheating runs good. Any thoughts?
12-27-2010, 09:01 PM
#2
Where is it leaking coolant at?
Have you changed your water pump yet?
Before you change your heater core you can try to bypass it to see if that helps, if it doesnt help then your problem isnt there.
You might want to have a leakdown test done to make sure you dont have a bad head gasket.
Here is some good reading material for you; note the paragraph on "Gasket Problems."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_gasket
Have you changed your water pump yet?
Before you change your heater core you can try to bypass it to see if that helps, if it doesnt help then your problem isnt there.
You might want to have a leakdown test done to make sure you dont have a bad head gasket.
Here is some good reading material for you; note the paragraph on "Gasket Problems."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_gasket
12-27-2010, 10:32 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3
Overheating 96 Mustang
I did forget to mention the water pump is new too but I will try the other suggestions. The leak appears to be on the right side (by the radiator cap) but there hasn't been any anti-freeze by the cap itself, it starts about an inch below it and down what looks like the seem of the radiator.
Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the input.
12-27-2010, 11:04 PM
#8
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 1,670
I did forget to mention the water pump is new too but I will try the other suggestions. The leak appears to be on the right side (by the radiator cap) but there hasn't been any anti-freeze by the cap itself, it starts about an inch below it and down what looks like the seem of the radiator.
Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the input.
Last edited by petrock; 12-27-2010 at 11:06 PM.
12-28-2010, 02:03 AM
#10
▲
║
║
║ Post *****
Sounds like the plastic side cap on the radiator may have cracked or is separating.
Change that out, a leaky rad is never good.
If you go with a mishimoto radiator be sure to get their rubber isolator bushing kit with it otherwise the flexing from the front end will stress and crack the radiator.
A lot of people hate Mishimoto for the cracking problems they have had but these issues were fixed once they offered the softer rubber isolators.
║
║
║ Post *****
Sounds like the plastic side cap on the radiator may have cracked or is separating.
Change that out, a leaky rad is never good.
If you go with a mishimoto radiator be sure to get their rubber isolator bushing kit with it otherwise the flexing from the front end will stress and crack the radiator.
A lot of people hate Mishimoto for the cracking problems they have had but these issues were fixed once they offered the softer rubber isolators.
Last edited by NeoTokyo; 12-28-2010 at 02:12 AM.