This is topic What are symptoms of a bad head gasket? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Yung Than (Member # 728) on :
 
My 94 GT has been running hotter than usual, even at night these past winter like days here in the bay area. It heated up on me 2 weeks ago and had to add coolant to the resevoir. I've driven it everyday and have not needed to add any more coolant since. The temp gauge use to read halfwa even on the warmer days but now it's at 3/4 the way after 20 minutes of driving? Anyone experience this before?

I'm suspecting it might have something to do with my ECT sensor but somebody mentioned bad head gasket to me. What are the symptoms for a bad head gasket? How long will I be able to drive the car if that's the case? What will happen eventually if the gasket goes?
 
Posted by outlawd94cobra (Member # 265) on :
 
Be careful as your driving around overheating because when that gauge hits the start of your redline on your temp, your whole car will shut-off, power and all. EXTREMELY dangerous if your on the freeway. Some symptoms can be having moisture or water coming from your tailpipe, and an extremely rough idling engine. Thats what happened after my car overheated and needed my gaskets changed.
One reason that my 1st cobra overheated was that i had a leak in my radiator that was never fixed and my thermostat was stuck. I would of saved about 400 bucks if i would of just spent 150 bucks on a new radiator instead of putting it off for so long. Oh well, it just gave me a reason to overhaul the engine. [Smile]
 
Posted by Greenandsilver (Member # 1371) on :
 
Yeah I am thinking thermostat possibly. I had similar symptoms about a year ago and they were scarring me - thought my fan wasn't coming on. My shop told me it needed a new thermostat probably so i put a new one in (took no time) and it's been perfect ever since. Also, there is a way to test to see if your thermostat works by putting it in very hot water - but I don't remember exactly how hot it needs to be - but that would tell you if it were broken if you did change it.
 
Posted by sic91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Drain your coolant system completley. Change the thermosstat and add 1 bottle of redline water wetter and the rest fill up with staraight water. It will run so much cooler you would be shocked.
 
Posted by outlawd94cobra (Member # 265) on :
 
The trick Green&Silver is talking about is the boiling water trick. When you take out your old thermostat, put it in a pot of water,& turn the heat on. Now after a few minutes as the water starts to get hotter, your thermostat should actually open up(the spring). If it didnt, bad thermostat, get a new one.
 
Posted by Yung Than (Member # 728) on :
 
Thermostat it was. Thanks guys.
 




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