my car is a 90 ford escort 1.9 . there are no leaks , no antifreeze on floor, rad does get low?

Answer 1

The 1.9L in-line four from Ford are infamous for cylinder head troubles of all sorts. You can check for that a number of ways. The first and easiest way is a leak down test. This is where you take the rad cap off and put the pump tester on there and pump it up too around 26 PSI and record the pressure and check on it after a while and see if it drops. To find out if it is a head leak, there is simple and cheap way. You can get a low priced ($32.00 on average) cylinder head leak test kit. It consists of a phosphate colour die and a ultra violet light. You add the liquid to the rad and run the engine until it heats up and then hold the light at the exhaust and look for glowing exhaust fumes. If you find any which I bet you will, knowing the engine, just change the gasket. To spite what people may tell you, they are very easy to change. Get a manual as a reference and a head gasket for about 14 bucks and a free weekend to do it in. Change your thermostat to a winter one at the same time as they cost a few dollar and it will be easy to do and give you one less worry later. It's not a $1000.00 unless your scared of getting your hands dirty.

Answer 2

Ok the economy car is 18 years old. I would really think about just keeping antifreeze water mix in it until you replace this car. Keep a couple jugs of mixed coolant in a box in the back 15 dollars. Radatior could cost 200 installed replacing all the coolant hoses thermostat and water pump could cost 750 having to reseal a bad head gasket could cost 1000. So see anything you will start out doing could end up costing more than the car is worth. Just check and add coolant as necessary you may even eventually find the bad hose or gasket. But My best reccomendation is start new car shopping you can get good deals year end on 2007 cars. You would look great in a Ford Fusion. Or any other new car.

Answer 3

you may have a small pin hole leak at operating temps. usually they are higher on the radiator, in the fins. while driving the coolant is circulated by the pump and reaches the hole. when you stop and shut down, the coolant level is below the pinhole so you don't see it. Try this, get a small tube of "aluma seal" at your auto parts store. with the engine cool, add the contents, top off the coolant, place the cap on the radiator and drive for at least a half hour. That stuff works great for pluggin leaks. Don't use "bronze seal" as it does not work well.
Good luck

Answer 4

does the temp get higher than normal may be the start of a head gasket leak may also be a slight leak in the hoses or radiator this will cause the coolant to evaporate before it drip over period of time look for clean areas around the coolant hoses and fittings

Answer 5

You might have a head gasget leak. Is there steam from the exhuast?