Non Chevy Mechanial problem

[mtnman210]

I'm working on my girls 200 Ford Taurus. It's the DOHC V6. The low coolant light keeps coming on and when I check the resivoir its empty. easy enough. After refilling it it will be drained in a few hours of driving. However I can't find any visible leaks other than it's coming out the overflow. I'm thinking maybe head gasket but the car isn't getting hot at all. The temp gauge never goes above half. So I'm still gonna check the oil today to see if I can find some milkshake otherwise I don't have any idea where the water is going.

Any ideas?

 

[Fordum]

Sure that some is coming out the overflow?
I had one like that. Put in the coolant, and after a few minutes it would start dripping out the overflow tube.
I figured head gasket too, but no other signs.

The overflow tube was running down the side of the tank, and the coolant was dripping in a place I did not want. So, I moved the tube off to the side, and the coolant continued to drip in the same place.

Turned out, there was a hairline crack in the reservoir under the overflow tube, and the coolant was running down the outside of the overflow.
Just looked like it was coming out the end of the tube.
Also, a hairline crack in the plastic end caps of the radiator will often not let enough flow out at one time to make a puddle. Instead it will ooze out and evaporate against the engine block as you drive.
It will usually leave a stain on the cap in the shape of the crack if you look close with a bright light.
Otherwise, get some of the ultraviolet dye and a black light.

J.

 

[Thunder]

First check for leaks with the engine warm and the car running.
If you cant find any leaks it is most likely the head gasket. A bad head gasket will not nessisarlly contaminate the oil enough to change its color.
Check the exhaust for steam, water, and coolant smell.
Might want to take off the radiator cap and look for bubbles while the engine is warm and running.

 

[mtnman210]

As far as I know the radiator is closed, there is not cap. You fill it through the reservoir mounted on the inner fender.


I'll try looking for small cracks as well. Hopefully thats it, but that would be too easy

 

[mtnman210]

found it. There is one of those plastic adapters between 2 pieces of radiator hose and it has a return line with a "T" with a hose going back to the reservoir. The hose on the T is leaking. It was just hidden by a bunch of stuff in the way so I didn't see it before. I just happened to see it steaming after I had been driving it this morning and went to check for leaks.

 

[Thunder]

Glad it was something easy!