Burning coolant

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
129
Location
Rhode Island
99 Ford Escort 2.0 SPI, just hit 200k miles. I did the head gasket 10-20k miles ago after it blew between two cylinders causing compression loss. A few months later it began losing coolant. Tester showed exhaust gas in the coolant. I decided the head is not coming off again so I tried the Bars Block Seal head gasket fix (copper colored stuff). Fixed for a few months. Now I'm losing about 1/2 gal a week of coolant again.

Wondering if I should reverse flush the radiator and heater core and try the Bars leak again, or just keep topping off the coolant every week. Recently did an oil change and it's not going in the oil. Sometimes I get white smoke on startup that clears after the engine warms up. Engine runs great and pulls strong to redline.

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
Did you check the head and block for flatness last time you did the gasket?

If you don't want to fix it right then just keep topping up until it dies, but save some cash In the meanwhile so you can buy something right away when the inevitable happens.
Personally I'd spend a little time and money doing it right so I wouldn't have to worry for many more years&miles.
 
There was a small groove between cyl 3-4 from when the gasket blew. Otherwise it appeared flat. Engine was never overheated. I don't think that's it because it's not near a coolant passage. Plan is to eventually drop in a spare 140k mi engine I have. Just wondering if the coolant burning will get worse over time or just be a constant thing.
 
Leaks almost always get worse, You should always have an aluminum head pressure tested for cracks, checked for straightness and possibly skimmed regardless if for nothing more than to renew the gasket sealing surface but you already know that now.
 
Hi--mine turned out to be a leak around the water pump shaft. Kept losing coolant--same scene as you described. Timing belt finally broke and mechanic found the leak which eventually deteriorated the timing belt. New belt and pump solved the problem.
 
That is a lot of coolant to lose every week.

I would raise the hood and examine the engine carefully after you have driven it one day. You might have a leak around a hose or connection or the water pump. I would get a good light and inspect closely before jumping to conclusions.
 
If that much coolant is going into the cylinders, I would not be surprised if you started having trouble getting the engine to turn over, to start, when hot.

Look for external leaks, or take out the plugs and turn it over.......The cylinder(s) getting coolant will reveal themselves.

It could be a cracked head.
 
I have no experience with that engine, but I would bet you have a cracked cylinder head. Personally, I would price a recon head. Might be a practical solution. On my mopars, you have to replace the head bolts as well.
 
Update:

Might not have been burning after all. I pulled the plugs and all looked well. Here they are, only 10k mi on these, ordered left to right for cyl. 1-4:

Next step I ran a coolant pressure test. I pressurized the radiator to 20 PSI. I noticed a drip-drip-drip coming from the lower radiator hose where it meets the water pump. I tightened the hose clamp and all was well. I then noticed a small leak at the coolant hose that heats the PCV assembly. Replaced a small piece of hose and put a new clamp on. Repressurized everything and left it for a while. After 1 hr it had dropped from 20 to 17 PSI. After 2 hrs it was at 16 PSI. No drips during this time, so not sure where the small drop went. When I started it up there was no smoke, so I don't think it's going into the cylinders. Will drive it and keep an eye on things.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top