2000 Ford Escort oil and heater

Tiny
PHILLWON
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD ESCORT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 98,000 MILES
About 2 weeks ago I discovered oil on the front offside wheel and wheel arch, I checked the oil and looked for an oil leek, everything seemed fine, then these last couple of days, the heater packed up and then it started to overheat while I was on a motorway, then it seemed to correct itself until a few miles later it overheated again. I checked to see if there was an oil leek but cannot detect anything other than oil on the steering rack, could you help.
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 AT 12:14 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
If you could include a pic of the where the oil is. Secondly check the coolant level to see if the coolant is low. You say the oil is on the wheel arch, which side (left is drivers) and is it oil or grease from the axle boot? Get back to me with what you find.
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Thursday, January 7th, 2010 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
PHILLWON
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  • 4 POSTS
Can't get a picture at the moment, drivers side on the right (UK), coolant level has gone from expansion tank but now it seems it was not oil, (I think) it was the coolant and anti-freeze, would it be a hose but there is no coolant loss at the moment but I have not let the engine run just in case I do further damage. There seems to be no water in the oil, so hopefully it is not a head gasket.
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Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 3:46 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Yes it could be a hose. It could be a bypass hose or radiator hose or heater hose or just a loose clamp. I would look for any signs of leak by looking for a clean spot where there is no grease but yet there is on either side. As long as there is oil pressure and the car don't overheat there is no problem with running to check it. If nothing else have the radiator pressure tested to check for leaks anywhere. What side it is leaking on (as if you where in the drivers seat). Let me know what you find.
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Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 8:57 AM
Tiny
PHILLWON
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  • 4 POSTS
Thanks for your time, If you sit in the drivers seat which is on the right in the UK, the leak was coming from the right side. I have since filled up with coolant and let it run up to normal running temperature, then let it run for a while to see if the fan would kick in. The fan did not come on and the temperature did not rise, this is not normal is it? Cannot find any leaks, this is weird.
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Sunday, January 10th, 2010 AT 5:09 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Well if it don't come to temp then the fan won't come on. The only way to know is to check it with an infered thermometer so you can see what the temp is. Now as for the leak, is you heater core on the left side of the car? If so then I would check for a window leak.
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Monday, January 11th, 2010 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
PHILLWON
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  • 4 POSTS
Sorry but I don't know what you mean by a 'window leak'.
I am not disputing your knowledge but if I run the engine for a while the fan should start running to keep the engine cool, should'nt it.
Can I drive the car
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Monday, January 11th, 2010 AT 11:27 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok you say there is water on the floor that is what I think may be the windsheild leaking ok. Now as for the fan it is suppose to come on to cool the engine, however is isn't going to come on till around 215 degrees F. So unless it gets to that temp the fan will not come on. What may need to be done is find a place that has an infered thermometer to see what the temp of the engine is to see it is in the range for the fan to come on.
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 AT 9:58 AM

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