coolant issue now

[IlovemybroncII]

ok ive seen this on another ford I had there is most likely a small crack in head gasket letting water in on pistons not enough to smoke white not enough to water lock the engine yet you are burning the water with the fuel if this is the problem it will get worse as time goes by the water will eat enough of the gasket out to let a lot of water in the piston at one time over night that it will water lock the engine

 

[88_Eddie]

^
i've been reading alot of threads this weekend and i think that may be my problem except i have a pretty good bit of white smoke

 

[TheOne]

but if thats the case i would still smell the coolant burning off...which i dont...

like i said iv been following it more closely now and once the truck cools off im gunna go out there and take a peak again...still hasnt moved from that one level when i checked it yesterday...

and when i fill it up full...it will instantly after driving (or after acouple days) return to the level its at now...and its been at this level for a week and a half...

 

[IlovemybroncII]

you dont always smell it burning off but ifits holding water then you dont have problem if its not leaking it only other thing i can think of is its leaking under pressure while driving and blowing the water away as your driving without going back and rereading all post have you had it pressure tested

 

[trail B2]

The 4.0 in mine did this after I put it in especially the going down to a certain point about a third or quarter way down and finding no puddles.What was happening was combustion gases were getting into the radiator and out the overflow but when going down the road only.One day while topping it of you could see bubbles coming out after the idle settled down and clear full.If I had the problem again I would use a head gasket testing kit and then work on other theories.

 

[Big Jim M]

Jesus guys! It's so damn obvious that if coolant can get into the cylinder then even MORE combustion pressure can get into the radiator. When this happens the radiator ALWAYS blows coolant all over the place. If you ain't got coolant blowing OUT OF THE SYSTEM then you ain't got a head gasket leak or a cracked head either..
What you HAVE GOT is a small external leak.. Ya gotta lay your ass down UNDER the vehicle and find that small leak!
OPENING the hood and standing there, while scratching your butt, will only find about 5% of external leaks. So getcha a flashlight and lay under there and find the leak.
Big JIm

 

[modelageek]

Jesus guys! When this happens the radiator ALWAYS blows coolant all over the place. If you ain't got coolant blowing OUT OF THE SYSTEM then you ain't got a head gasket leak or a cracked head either..

Big JIm

I am a novice/intermediate mechanic and i learn stuff everyday. I did not know this..thanks

 

[IlovemybroncII]

sorry jim I have to disagree I had a engine that had a leak in gasket put that bars stop leak crap in rad and it stopped water lost untill it ate away the bars then it got worse and yes i had the rad checked with a tester which tested for combustion gases in the water no gases showed up in water then it got so bad that it would water lock the pistons and you would have a full batt and have to jump it off just to turn motor over untill it started didt fix it was in a E350 van hate working on engins in vans lol junked it