Low Coolant Light! Actual Low Coolant

[Win]

Hey guys i just got this 94 GT. Over the past 4 weeks i have to put about a full gallon of coolant in. I first started smelling it when the AC was on. So i checked the Rad Cap. It looked like there was some overflow coming out of there so i replaced it (7 dollars). Easy on the wallet if it actually was the problem. So this is still going on it will pop a low coolant light. I'll check it and the reservoir will be empty. I sat with the car running with and without the AC on for about 15-20 min each. I can't find a drop of coolant on the ground. It looks to have maybe a little seepage at the weep hole for the water pump. I am thinking that might be my culprit b/c it was running a bit warmer then the whole time my friend had it. He has had it for 10 yrs and he never went past about 2500 when shifting. Never drove it hard never had a problem. So does anyone have any ideas what it would be. I figure it wouldn't hurt anyway to replace the water pump with 165 on the clock. It has never been done. Oh the radiator was replaced last year though. So what do you guys think.

 

[95-stang]

My first guess would be a head gasket, thats a lot of water to be replacing even if there's a little seepage from the pump.

 

[stang4u2nv]

chech the floor of the car for a coolant leak usually when you ahve coolant smell when the a/c is on the problem could be the heater core under the dash, if not then you gotta be careful because the overflow tanks on the sn95 could easily crack when being taken out for some reason like radiator replacement, remeber that this little tank sits on a brecket and you might not see the coolant leakin from there,because it won't fall to the ground if not then do a pressure test of the cooling system, any shop should be able to do it in 5 minutes just make sure you see what they are doing because they might wana trick you and charge you for something that is not broken. good luck man...

 

[Win]

Thats what i was thinking also I have checked the heads for leaks. Visual Check but haven't found any indication. I don't have any coolant in my oil which is a good thing also. My truck with a 302 in it did pretty much this didn't show any signs of anything then the water pump just took a dump on me. So i am hoping thats all it is. Any other ideas thanks 95-stang



Thanks man yeah i am a mech by trade so i can just pressure test it. I just haven't had the time with 2 jobs and all. Thanks for the Heater Core i forgot about that one. This is why i always ask before diving into anything. Thanks stang4u2nv

 

[95-stang]

Well if the gasket breaks between the water jacket and the bore, its the piston going up and down pumping air in that pressurises the system, forcing water out of the expansion tank.
You dont always get water in the oil or vice versa. Usually if waters being forced out its because of pressure build up, a thermostat thats stuck shut can do it, but it would boil up fairly quick.
If a cylinders burning a lot of water, one of the spark plugs will be quite a different colour to the rest. In extreme cases i've taken plugs out, turned the car over and seen water spewing out of the plug hole. I have a snap-on cylinder leak tester for extreme cases, but as Sherlock Holmes says, "Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth".
Its much easier if its not a head job, and hopefully its not, but you could do with getting the car on stands [or ramp] and looking at the underneath for leaks.

 

[Win]

ok just got home from work and it smelled strong when i got out of the car of coolant. Humm yeah def gonna have to go on ramps or stands to see what the heck is going on

 

[Ram000]

might also want to check your heater hoses on the rear passenger side of the engine. mine was leaking from there (one of the clamps wasn't on tight enough) and it was causing the low-coolant light to come on and the actual low coolant level.