Overheating

93fordturbo

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My 85 has been overheating a lot. It goes through a pile of coolant and I'm not sure if it's mostly leaking in the ground or going out the tail pipe. I'll fill it up anytime drive it and hour and it will start to overheat. I stop and it's 1 to 2 gallons low. Good pressure on the system. It doesn't seem to suck the fluid back from the overflow tank it just fills the tank that's all that happens with that. It only leaks when it's running and pressure is in system. Leaks in the front driver's side. It's a plastic/metal radiator. (I didn't have a choice at the time). Doesn't seem to be smoking white or anything so I don't know if it could be the hg. Any tips? I have radiator out and am going to take to get tested. Also I did put a new t stat in a while back. I made sure I put in the correct way. Maybe it was bad from factory?
 

jwalterus

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Also I did put a new t stat in a while back. I made sure I put in the correct way. Maybe it was bad from factory?

ALWAYS test a new T-stat on the stove in a pot of water with a thermometer, no matter what the application. 99% of the time they work, so I'm sure it's fine. You did use an OEM one right? Not one straight from Chingladesh?

Get some dye in the system and find the leak, but you are pressurizing way high, so I'd be looking at most likely a HG failure, but it could be a faulty cap...... (I'd throw a cap on it, throw in some dye, and check it while planning to pull the heads in the end.)
 

93fordturbo

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Ok, any tips for doing head gaskets? I did some for the first time a few years ago and it was a total bear. I damn near would take it to my local shop if I had to do it again. I'm sure it would be $1500 for that though
 

Tristan

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Run it with the radiator cap off and see if you have bubble coming up through the coolant, mine looked like boiling water before the head gasket replacement.
 

MTKirk

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Here's the bubbles I had in my coolant tank when the head gasket failed. Enjoy!
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