Emergency Car Help?

[Guest Philosophy]

I was driving today when my red check engine light came on. Got home zero coolant (If you know me you'd know how much a problem this is). I have replaced the Rad, Pump and a couple of hoses. So my coolant is diapering, not leaking on the ground. I put coolant in it. I drove 3 miles. Then merged on the freeway to come home. I was trying to get infront of a truck and floored it.. it just slowley jolted forward not what the 5.0L normal's does. It pulls pretty hard normally. What might the problem be? 

 

@AlwaysFSX @terrytek @techswede

[arnavvr]

I was driving today when my red check engine light came on. Got home zero coolant (If you know me you'd know how much a problem this is). I have replaced the Rad, Pump and a couple of hoses. So my coolant is diapering, not leaking on the ground. I put coolant in it. I drove 3 miles. Then merged on the freeway to come home. I was trying to get infront of a truck and floored it.. it just slowley jolted forward not what the 5.0L normal's does. It pulls pretty hard normally. What might the problem be? 

 

@AlwaysFSX @terrytek @techswede

 

What car do you have?

[AlwaysFSX]

You might have a coolant leak in to the cylinders.. Which would be very bad. I'd top it up and go through and examine every piece of tubing for the coolant, go look at the radiator, and go run an emissions test to see if you're leaking coolant in to a cylinder. Maybe check the oil too to see if it's going in to that somehow.

[AlwaysFSX]

What car do you have?

1995 Mustang GT 5.0 HiPo engine

[Guest Philosophy]

You might have a coolant leak in to the cylinders.. Which would be very bad. I'd top it up and go through and examine every piece of tubing for the coolant, go look at the radiator, and go run an emissions test to see if you're leaking coolant in to a cylinder. Maybe check the oil too to see if it's going in to that somehow.

Check all hoses, and the radiator. Nothing in regards to leaks. Would a compression test help?

[AlwaysFSX]

Check all hoses, and the radiator. Nothing in regards to leaks. Would a compression test help?

Did you check while the engine is running and warmed up?

[Guest Philosophy]

Did you check while the engine is running and warmed up?

Yes, sir. I drove about 6 miles. Left it running when I got home and checked. 

[AlwaysFSX]

Yes, sir. I drove about 6 miles. Left it running when I got home and checked. 

Is your temp gauge pinned to the hot side? If it is you might be boiling all the coolant away.

[Guest Philosophy]

Is your temp gauge pinned to the hot side? If it is you might be boiling all the coolant away.

I forgot to mention it is going back and forth from hot to cold rapidly. 

[STRMfrmXMN]

I forgot to mention it is going back and forth from hot to cold rapidly. 

 

 

*I know this isn't helpful but I don't know enough about car mechanics to help you. Sorry son.*

[AlwaysFSX]

I forgot to mention it is going back and forth from hot to cold rapidly. 

Yeah I think you might be boiling the coolant off.. Your radiator cap is on snugly, right? Maybe the thermometer is loose and coolant is disappearing from there?  :unsure:

[Guest Philosophy]

Yeah I think you might be boiling the coolant off.. Your radiator cap is on snugly, right? Maybe the thermometer is loose and coolant is disappearing from there?  :unsure:

As long as I have coolant it stays well cool. Only if I get low does it move rapidly. The cap is very tight. 

[AlwaysFSX]

As long as I have coolant it stays well cool. Only if I get low does it move rapidly. The cap is very tight. 

Well, obviously it's going somewhere.. Do you smell coolant while you're driving?

[Guest Philosophy]

Well, obviously it's going somewhere.. Do you smell coolant while you're driving?

I do not smell coolant while I am driving. I am thinking it is leaking into the block.. 

[AlwaysFSX]

I do not smell coolant while I am driving. I am thinking it is leaking into the block.. 

Could be a gasket leak. Are you able to take it to someone to check the coolant for any contaminants that could come from various parts of the engine and to see if your heater core is leaking? I know you can add some UV dye to the coolant and drive around for a while and look for it with a UV light to make sure it's not leaking in some hidden area and evaporating on you.

 

Oh, and double check your radiator cap isn't broken or anything.

[Guest Philosophy]

Could be a gasket leak. Are you able to take it to someone to check the coolant for any contaminants that could come from various parts of the engine and to see if your heater core is leaking? I know you can add some UV dye to the coolant and drive around for a while and look for it with a UV light to make sure it's not leaking in some hidden area and evaporating on you.

I can take it to a local mechanic. I will do that. I like to have an idea before I got in there

[AlwaysFSX]

I can take it to a local mechanic. I will do that. I like to have an idea before I got in there

Maybe they can pressure test your entire system too, just to be complete certain of where the coolant is going. But if you're sometimes having problems making power, it could be a gasket leak in to the cylinder(s).

[Guest Philosophy]

Maybe they can pressure test your entire system too, just to be complete certain of where the coolant is going. But if you're sometimes having problems making power, it could be a gasket leak in to the cylinder(s).

It was making power then I went to merge and since the red (Not yellow) engine light came on. I have had less power than my old 1.0L Sentra. 

[AlwaysFSX]

It was making power then I went to merge and since the red (Not yellow) engine light came on. I have had less power than my old 1.0L Sentra. 

Yeah it sounds like it's leaking in to your block. Which could be a head gasket you need to replace (yay!) or a cracked block (oh shit!). It's probably just a gasket. Might be a very old one too at that.

[Guest Philosophy]

Yeah it sounds like it's leaking in to your block. Which could be a head gasket you need to replace (yay!) or a cracked block (oh shit!). It's probably just a gasket. Might be a very old one too at that.

Cracked block would total my car. It is worth less than 4K... for that matter a gasket might

[AlwaysFSX]

Cracked block would total my car. It is worth less than 4K... for that matter a gasket might

It's more than likely a head gasket. If the block were cracked you'd be seeing a lot of fun colors and smells coming out of your exhaust, along with some interesting noises.

[Guest Philosophy]

It's more than likely a head gasket. If the block were cracked you'd be seeing a lot of fun colors and smells coming out of your exhaust, along with some interesting noises.

Interesting noises I have... sounds like I have somthing stuck under my car once in a while when I floor it Griding ish sound. 

[Guest Philosophy]

It's more than likely a head gasket. If the block were cracked you'd be seeing a lot of fun colors and smells coming out of your exhaust, along with some interesting noises.

How much is head-gasket cost? It won't total my car will it?

[AlwaysFSX]

Interesting noises I have... sounds like I have somthing stuck under my car once in a while when I floor it Griding ish sound. 

I mean like the chains of death are coming out of your engine.

[blackadder]

Interesting noises I have... sounds like I have somthing stuck under my car once in a while when I floor it Griding ish sound.

it does should like a head gasket. It not the hardest job. Getting to it sucks and thats why it cost so much. Of this has been happening for some time you might need to get the cylinders honed.