i have a 98 taurus and today i discovered a coolant leak coming from a hose/pipe that runs from the water pump to the firewall (heater core?). I also noticed a bit more smoke coming from the tail pipe than usual. i don't want to just repair the coolant leak if there is a greater problem. how can i tell if i have a blown head gasket?
2006-11-14 12:58:28 · 10 answers · asked by rae_lee9 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
This leak is most probably just the hose itself. It sounds like this hose definetely needs to be replaced. To see if it is a head gasket problem also, check the oil...if there is coolant present then your head gasket is blown...Also check the coolant to see if there is oil in it as well. The extra smoke could be caused by your engine overheating from low coolant level,or coolant leaking onto the exhaust.
2006-11-14 13:05:30 · answer #1 · answered by Hmmm... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the smoke from the tailpipe has a sweet antifreeze smell it is a head gasket or cracked head. You will still have to fix the hose leak to know for sure. These heater hoses are not hard to fix or expensive even if you have that done. Taurus is famous for corroded head gaskets. The leaking heater hose could have caused it to run hot enough to blow the head, or just coincidence. Or just the fact that the motor is getting hot from the water running out the heater hose is causing it to burn more oil and smoke. Look and see if there is water vapor dripping out the exhaust as well and if the "smoke" is really steam that floats off and then evaporates. Smoke will hang in the air and only thin out slowly. Steam from water will simply just vanish after going a few feet from the car. If this is a 3.8 engine (most are 3.0) the heads are probably still under a Ford Factory recall for this. That is if the vehicle is still under 100,000 miles. They had defective gaskets in them originally and Ford is fixing them if they go bad. Only applies to the 3.8 engine that I know of though.
2006-11-14 13:07:17 · answer #2 · answered by mohavedesert 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please if you do not know the correct answer don't give a wrong one to someone.Signs of blown head gasket
Sweet smell out the tail pipe
white smoke out tail pipe
coolant coming out tail pipe
look at the oil dip stick if its milky foam like stuff,oil is light brown
oil cap where the oil is added in Mikey
coolant can't get into the Radiator unless the head is cracked,so if you have oil in the Radiator then you have a cracked head.
There is a tester called a BLOCK tester which has a blue fluid in a bottle with a rubber end to suck up the vapor,which will turn YELLOW if the head gasket is blown.You can buy the tester at a auto parts store they are cheap and easy to use.That will tell you if your head gasket is blown.
2006-11-14 19:15:32 · answer #3 · answered by plysocr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have a special kit where they poor a blue fluid in a tube and attach it to your radiator ot tank. It detects exhaust gases in the cooling system. Take it to a shop.
You could just have a leaking water pump, or the hose is leaking. Have it checked
A blown head gasket doesn't always put oil in the water.
2006-11-14 13:05:02 · answer #4 · answered by whtsthislif4 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First,yes the hose going to the firewall is for the heater core.I don't understand why if that's leaking you would think that has anything to do with a head gasket.Fix your hose and or heater core. after that is fixed watch your water level in radiator.If it stays up you don't have a gasket problem.
2006-11-14 13:04:29 · answer #5 · answered by tennpeckerhead 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
run a compression check on all of the cylinders should be 40 to 60 psi in all cylinders maybe lower if engine has been run hard a blown head gasket does not always show up with power loss or water in oil
2006-11-14 13:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by The gr8t alien 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None of what you said is symptomatic of a blown head gasket.
Common signs of head gasket problems are dramatic loss of power and foamy oil. Check the crank case and look for a weird color and lots of bubbles.
2006-11-14 13:00:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before spending big bucks, click on www.crcindustries.com and bring up K and W Nanotechnology Permanent Head Gasket and Block Repair. You make the decision.
2006-11-14 13:05:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
look in your radiator if the heads blown the water in the radiator will have oil in it plus foamy looking,
also your cars proberly guffing whitish cancer causing smoke
2006-11-14 13:04:09 · answer #9 · answered by GOOCH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
remove the sparkplugs and look at them . if they are nice and clean you got a headgasket leak.
2006-11-14 13:29:44 · answer #10 · answered by Shark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋