burning coolant! need some help.
07-08-2009, 08:28 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: georgia
Posts: 35
burning coolant! need some help.
my car is leaking coolant but i am not sure where exactly. I do however know its coming from behind the engine by the firewall and dripping onto the ground. The #8 plug is wet and i am guessing its leaking somewhere and being ignited in that cylinder. I have absolutely no clue as to where it might be leaking for it to be able to get into the cylinder. I hope someone here might be able to give me an idea where to look and what to do about it. thank you
07-08-2009, 08:49 PM
#2
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: texas
Posts: 89
Sounds like a head gasket leak. Usually when this happens the coolant will be gunky brown. A radiator shop can check this for you. The fix is replace the head gasket or you could try a product called Thermagasket. You flush the cooling system to get rid of all of the anti-freeze down to pure water. Next you add the two parts to water as directed then you drive the car for a period of time to keep it at operating temp. You leave the product in the system for two weeks, I think it is and then flush again. I have use it on a 5.0 and it worked very well for me. No guarantee, but might be worth a shot.
07-08-2009, 08:56 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: georgia
Posts: 35
Sounds like a head gasket leak. Usually when this happens the coolant will be gunky brown. A radiator shop can check this for you. The fix is replace the head gasket or you could try a product called Thermagasket. You flush the cooling system to get rid of all of the anti-freeze down to pure water. Next you add the two parts to water as directed then you drive the car for a period of time to keep it at operating temp. You leave the product in the system for two weeks, I think it is and then flush again. I have use it on a 5.0 and it worked very well for me. No guarantee, but might be worth a shot.
07-08-2009, 10:32 PM
#5
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Spfld, MA
Posts: 9,240
if the leak is external, check the hose that runs from the bottom/back of the lower intake and runs towards the passenger side into the firewall. i believe its the lower heater core hose. popped on all 3 of my fox's. its very hard to see where it connects to the intake, and not too much fun to replace, either. extendable mirrors and plenty of lighting will help here.
Last edited by mattdel; 07-08-2009 at 10:36 PM.
07-09-2009, 07:19 AM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: georgia
Posts: 35
07-09-2009, 07:21 AM
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: georgia
Posts: 35
if the leak is external, check the hose that runs from the bottom/back of the lower intake and runs towards the passenger side into the firewall. i believe its the lower heater core hose. popped on all 3 of my fox's. its very hard to see where it connects to the intake, and not too much fun to replace, either. extendable mirrors and plenty of lighting will help here.
07-10-2009, 03:48 AM
#9
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: colorado
Posts: 6,395
If it is leaking where the lower intake manifold meet's the BLOCK and not the HEAD's do not use a cork gasket. use a bead of silicone to seal it.
it could be at the head gasket, the head's could be warped from any number of things.
could also be from the intake manifold as stated.
good luck.
it could be at the head gasket, the head's could be warped from any number of things.
could also be from the intake manifold as stated.
good luck.
07-10-2009, 09:12 PM
#10
D.R. THE PATHETIC DORK
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 30,863
if the leak is external as you state it's not being burnt by combustion but most likely it is getting on the headers which is what is burning, pressure test system and look for the leak with a led light and small mirror