OH OH, help me out guys!
#1
OH OH, help me out guys!
Hey guys, I was recently driving my 98 Mustang GT today when all of a sudden it started smoking from the engine bay. I thought maybe it was a misfire cuz I was on the freeway and saw some smog coming from what I thought was my exhuast. However, I looked at my dash after a while and Long and behold it my engine was definitely overheated =/. Before this happened though, there are some details that ill include to see if you can guys help me out. 1) When I was driving it this morning, I heard a rattling from engine bay when I was exhelarating, but not when I was cruzing. 2)I dont see any broken hoses anywhere in the cooling system, but there was coolant all over my engine bay. 3) For a while now (i say about a year now), I have to continouly top my coolant off every three weeks or the low coolant light will come up on my dash. 4) However, I just put in coolant a few days ago and was topped off, so I KNOW there was coolant when I drove it this morning. 5) The coolant and oil still look like they are supposed to, so I dont think they mixed in with each other. Let me know if I can include anything else to hellp you guys help me. Im going to also see when I get time this week to pump the cooling systme with air to see if it holds pressure or if there is an actual leak that I just didn't catch. ANother thing guys, I dont know how long it was overheated for when I was driving, so hopefully there isn't any real engine damage. And againn thanks guys, I appreciate ANY help you can give me
#2
Hey guys, I was recently driving my 98 Mustang GT today when all of a sudden it started smoking from the engine bay. I thought maybe it was a misfire cuz I was on the freeway and saw some smog coming from what I thought was my exhuast. However, I looked at my dash after a while and Long and behold it my engine was definitely overheated =/. Before this happened though, there are some details that ill include to see if you can guys help me out. 1) When I was driving it this morning, I heard a rattling from engine bay when I was exhelarating, but not when I was cruzing. 2)I dont see any broken hoses anywhere in the cooling system, but there was coolant all over my engine bay. 3) For a while now (i say about a year now), I have to continouly top my coolant off every three weeks or the low coolant light will come up on my dash. 4) However, I just put in coolant a few days ago and was topped off, so I KNOW there was coolant when I drove it this morning. 5) The coolant and oil still look like they are supposed to, so I dont think they mixed in with each other. Let me know if I can include anything else to hellp you guys help me. Im going to also see when I get time this week to pump the cooling systme with air to see if it holds pressure or if there is an actual leak that I just didn't catch. ANother thing guys, I dont know how long it was overheated for when I was driving, so hopefully there isn't any real engine damage. And againn thanks guys, I appreciate ANY help you can give me
I would say thhat if the oil still looks ok and there is no smoke from the tail pipes than you probably didn't blow a headgasket.
Last edited by 96meangreengt; 05-24-2011 at 06:11 PM.
#3
The only reason you would have to "top off" you coolant is you have a leak. I would guess it is not an external leak or you would have seen puddles under the car. Sounds like the leak just got a lot worse. A shop should be able to test the coolant for hydrocarbons. If positive that means blown head gasket. if negetive all you have to do is find and fix the water leak.
#4
Just a thought, but mabe the water pump is going out/just went out. I know they have a little hole in the top for when they stop working. The coolant comes out and will get on the belt and then spray everywhere in the engine bay. And that could be where the rattling noise was coming from when under load since you didn't notice any engine power loss. And if it was on its way out, it could very slowly leak, thus the engine heat would evaporate it before it left puddles. Then go out, spray everywhere, and make enough steam to see pouring out from under the hood. Check it to see if there is any coolant there. Again just a thought.
Another thought, since I don't know all the details, but my old intake manifold split at the back passenger side where it connects with the heater hose that goes into the firewall. It cracked on the plastic part of the intake manifold, not the hose. And it was barley leaking when it first happened. Then it started leaking really bad. Just another what if. Hope these help some.
Another thought, since I don't know all the details, but my old intake manifold split at the back passenger side where it connects with the heater hose that goes into the firewall. It cracked on the plastic part of the intake manifold, not the hose. And it was barley leaking when it first happened. Then it started leaking really bad. Just another what if. Hope these help some.
#5
First 3 things I would check would be the crossover on your intake manifold for a crack, your water pump, and the thermostat. Hopefully its one of those, if you're still running the all plastic intake with the plastic crossover that would be what I bet it is.
#6
THANK YOU GUYS for the replies. Ill try to go into more detail here.The reason why I dont believe its a blown headgasket is because even just yesterday, my car felt normal and secondly, I dont see any mixture of fluids, BUT im no car expert so I wont rule anything out at this point. And do you guys know if autozone, Oreilly's or even if Napa carries those pressure testers you speak of? Ive used one before at my community college for an auto class, but were can I get one in public to test the pressure. As well, the one thing I noticed is that the leak seemed to have come from up front, as the spray pattern was more concentrated to the front were the radiator is and less towards the engine, and my water pump didn't seem wet at all. Another thing, is it possible my radiator cap may be the culprit? Even if its screwed tight, can coolant still leak out of it if its worn out and not keeping pressure?
#7
From the sounds of it I think it is going to be more than the cap but it could do that when worn. You could also have a rotting hose and maybe under pressure it is letting it leak. Also check the radiator itself and see if there's possibly a crack and it just now got bigger
#8
THANK YOU GUYS for the replies. Ill try to go into more detail here.The reason why I dont believe its a blown headgasket is because even just yesterday, my car felt normal and secondly, I dont see any mixture of fluids, BUT im no car expert so I wont rule anything out at this point. And do you guys know if autozone, Oreilly's or even if Napa carries those pressure testers you speak of? Ive used one before at my community college for an auto class, but were can I get one in public to test the pressure. As well, the one thing I noticed is that the leak seemed to have come from up front, as the spray pattern was more concentrated to the front were the radiator is and less towards the engine, and my water pump didn't seem wet at all. Another thing, is it possible my radiator cap may be the culprit? Even if its screwed tight, can coolant still leak out of it if its worn out and not keeping pressure?
If you dont see coolant around the water pump area but it looks like it is sprayed up on the hood the it is probably from the fan. So it might be a radiator leak or resivor tank leak, or the coolant line from radiator to Coolant temp sensor on front driver side of engine. Look for where the coolant is. Mabe bend the hose in differnt spots and see if see ANY cracks. Also check the side of the radiator for leaking. My original radiator started leaking right on the side where the plastic side connect with the aluminum fins. It was hard to tell at first because it looked like i had spilled alittle but then it got worse and i could see it wet down the side. Just some thoughts. Hope this helps.
Oh and your radiator cap only holds a certain amount of psi before it will release coolant. So if it started overheating then it will boil out through that point. Or/and any other place it can find.
#9
Well guys, I found the leak. 1st pic is the general vecinity where it is. Second one shows exactly where its coming from
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Uploaded with ImageShack.us
So from the looks of it, the air is exacping where the rubber and bottom metal is meeting. So it looks like something in the second pic needs to get replaced around here needs to get replaced. Unfortunately Im not the most mechanically profiecient, so first off, what exactly need to get replaced and second of all, how much would it cost to get this fixed at a shop, or is it something I might be able to do myself with some time and patience?
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
So from the looks of it, the air is exacping where the rubber and bottom metal is meeting. So it looks like something in the second pic needs to get replaced around here needs to get replaced. Unfortunately Im not the most mechanically profiecient, so first off, what exactly need to get replaced and second of all, how much would it cost to get this fixed at a shop, or is it something I might be able to do myself with some time and patience?
Last edited by striker1001; 05-25-2011 at 09:50 PM. Reason: Found the Leak
#10
Well guys, I found the leak. 1st pic is the general vecinity where it is. Second one shows exactly where its coming from
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
So from the looks of it, the air is exacping where the rubber and bottom metal is meeting. So it looks like something in the second pic needs to get replaced around here needs to get replaced. Unfortunately Im not the most mechanically profiecient, so first off, what exactly need to get replaced and second of all, how much would it cost to get this fixed at a shop, or is it something I might be able to do myself with some time and patience?
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
So from the looks of it, the air is exacping where the rubber and bottom metal is meeting. So it looks like something in the second pic needs to get replaced around here needs to get replaced. Unfortunately Im not the most mechanically profiecient, so first off, what exactly need to get replaced and second of all, how much would it cost to get this fixed at a shop, or is it something I might be able to do myself with some time and patience?
If you just replace the gasket and did it yourself it would cost you around $40 and maybe 3hrs at most if your a newbie. very easy to do yourself just take your time.
It looks a lot more intimidating than it realy is once you start take stuff off you will realize its not bad at all.
Last edited by 96meangreengt; 05-26-2011 at 05:45 PM.
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