Drinking Coolant

[BruceJr]

I have a 2003 Expedition 4.6 4x4 that has 120k on it and it consumes coolant at about 1/2 gallon a week.
Anybody have this problem?
the engine still runs good except for this issue?
Thanks

 

[Captain Morgan]

I haven't seen this but we probably all have the same suspicions.

You don't smell any coolant?

You can add dye to the reservoir and check the external areas with a UV flashlight.

 

[Stoned06]

That's a lot to lose in a week. Any white smoke or a sweet smelling exhaust? If so, a head gasket is the culprit. If not, check for a leaking hose or heater core.

 

[BruceJr]

Drinking Coolannt

I can smell the coolant but dont ever see any leaks

 

[BruceJr]

No White smoke

 

[Notmyidi]

How about excessive dripping from rear air? Water in vents

Do your headers have white marks on them

Oil look like chocalate milk, check trans fluid

I'm not telling you to huff your tail pipe but does it smell like coolant coming from the exhaust

It's going somewhere, my idi went through a gal in bout a month or so but it was burning it

sent from my mind via of telepathy

 

[HTR21]

Sounds like a head gasket about to go. I had a '79 F-100 that did the same thing. Thought I had a leaky radiator but instead blew water out of the tailpipes at a most inopportune time.

 

[Captain Morgan]

If you're lucky the leak is venting out directly to the exterior, or in to the exhaust valve\ manifold area. Buying a retractable mirror from Harbor Frieght for visual inspection is the cheapest route, followed bye adding dye and using a uv flashlight.

There's no need tearing the head off if you have such a small leak in a hose or fitting that it dries up immediately when driving. Obviously it doesnt leak enough to stain the drive or garage or you would have noticed that.

Have you considered driving it till fully warm then turning off the engine and laying underneath it, looking and listening to see what you might find? A small hiss and the fresh smell of anitfreeze could save you a trip to the shop.


.

 

[Whack]

It is going some where...

Fill it back up with coolant and run it up to operating temp...

Carefully pull the hood open (hissing steam is not your friend)...

Look for any leaks, steam, or hissing noises that are a give away...

Check your Res Cap... It could be spewing coolant or hissing, if you have 5 to 7 bucks, replace it...

(I know of a Powerstroke mechanic that hates the cap because they are cheap and always fail on the 6.0. Ironically the same 16 PSI cap is on the 5.4s)

Have a buddy rev the engine lightly and check for steam or sweet smell out of the tail pipe... it should be most visible on the pop up to speed or the return to idle.

Any internal use will show up in the oils (engine/trans) as a chocolate (engine) or strawberry(trans) milkshake consistency mess.

If it is a headgasket, pull the upstream O2 sensor on both sides. In severe cases it will look 'steam cleaned' or "corroded"... very little carbon deposits will be present.

The Capt's suggestion to stop the engine and listen for hissing is good too.
Good luck.

 

[GEORGETOWN]

Check under your manifold
I have found coolant under my manifold and my mechanic told me there is a pipe under there that is leaking the coolant.
You should be able to look right under it without moving anything. He had a blue or black light that showed the coolant glowing
Going to change it soon

 

[BruceJr]

I will try out the dye idea and see what shows up, appreciate the idea.
i will update asap