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1999 Ford Windstar Losing Coolant

Tiny
JIMMILLIKEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
About every 2 to 3 days I am having to add about 1/2 gal of coolant. Water is not getting into the engine and I can not find a leak anywhere under the vehicle or inside around the vehicle. The coolant system is not pressurizing at all either. Is there a simple fix to this issue or do you have any ideas as to what the problem might be?
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Monday, February 23rd, 2015 AT 12:58 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,742 POSTS
The most likely suspect is a leaking cylinder head gasket. You can add a small bottle of dark purple dye to the coolant, then search a day later with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow back to the source. Check inside the tail pipe. If you find the dye there, a cylinder head gasket is leaking.

Your mechanic can also do a chemical test at the radiator. That involves drawing air through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially-filled with a special dark blue liquid. If combustion gases are present, the liquid will turn bright yellow.
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Monday, February 23rd, 2015 AT 1:19 PM
Tiny
JIMMILLIKEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you so much! That would make since I can not see any visible leaks.
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Monday, February 23rd, 2015 AT 1:50 PM

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