Ex GT owner considers V6. Wondering about cooling

[Billy77]

Unfortunately I had to sell my '96 GT last summer due loss of job. To buy a SN95 was actually a sort of 'I want a S197' but the SN95 was 50% cheaper than the cheapest S197 back then.

Since I got my job back there is budget available to buy one again but since I have owned a SN95 the S197 is completely out of the picture. That car did something with me.

Found a nice clean V6 from '95 with 90k miles.

But ...head gasket comes to mind. Already mentally preparing how to replace it if I buy the car.

The general question is actually about the cooling. My other 4 cilinder barrel had a blown head gasket as well (2 times) and it was due overheating resulting in warped head etc.
Expansion tank was full with clay residue so I think they tried to use a sealant.

I learned eventually that the engine was running hotter than other cars I had before so I switched to fully synthetic oil and since then it runs less hot. No issues for 4 years/60k miles.

About the Essex engine I am aware of the uneven heat expansion/cooling of the aluminium heads Vs cast iron block.

That is considered the main reason that the head gasket starts to leak but because of the previous experience I start to wonder that if you would put a high quality synthetic oil....

would the chance of a headgasket leak be smaller?

 

[shovel]

The head gasket thing seems to be a mixture of factors, example even the 96+ lower intake manifold won't fit a 95 or earlier. Since moar temp = moar expansion, then yes limiting maximum temperature will limit maximum expansion differential. You can also help everything expand and contract at the same rate by putting a wet/wet oil cooler on it so the oil temp and water temp remain more consistent to each other.

There is no such thing as a healthy engine that would exhibit any difference observable to the owner when going back and forth from synthetic to conventional oil. Datacenters and the internet are responsible for about 6-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions which is more than twice as much as the American transportation sector, all cars and trucks and trains and buses combined. Roughly 87% of all the data in those datacenters is dudes on the internet arguing about [expletive] motor oil. Meanwhile the actual motors receiving the oil just don't care that much.

 

[Billy77]

I promise you I won't argue about the oil...

Many thanks for the explanation regarding the cooling.

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

If you want a V6, the New Edge V6 is way quicker than the older SN’s. They could even give the early V8’s a run for their money if they have the 2.73 rear end. They are no joke.

Of course, in my eyes, no other Mustang beats the pre facelift SN95, but if you are willing to compromise, you will be getting a quicker car for almost the same price.

 

[Billy77]

I do consider the new edge as well. It seems also that they are less prone to a headgasket leak. I know I am bragging about it. But since I had this with my other car I would like to avoid it. There are some good videos on YouTube though

 

[shovel]

As far as I've been able to tell 96+ really had no problem with head gaskets, of course any of these cars is decades old and the owner is the sole determining factor in how reliable they are. Pre-96 engines were relatively likely to develop a leak regardless of maintenance but after that they pretty much just come down to whether the person responsible for maintenance is suited to classic car ownership. If you perform diligent maintenance, don't play mad scientist with additives and address faults promptly with best practices you'll see the sun die of old age before having to worry about head gaskets in a 96+ v6 sn95/new edge.

 

[Billy77]

The car I am looking at dropped a bit in price (2k which makes it a little suspicious) so I will just reserve this amount if the rest is fine.

Earliest date is the 14th that I will take it for a test drive...

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

The car I am looking at dropped a bit in price (2k which makes it a little suspicious) so I will just reserve this amount if the rest is fine.

Earliest date is the 14th that I will take it for a test drive...

Just don’t forget to check those strut towers. Good luck!