1995 Windstar Coolant leak

I have a coolant leak in my 1995 Ford Windstar. I haven't taken a hard look to find it but here is what happens. I will be driving the van and the temperature gauge will almost reach the maximum and no heat will blow. Then something either gives and the temperature will go to normal and heat will blow out. When I stop the engine, at times there will be steam come out and you can smell the AF. After reading some similar post, I'm thinking water pump, intake manifold, head gasket(again) or a leak in some hose. The van has high mileage, is it time to give it up?

When is the last time the thermostat was changed??? How often do you need to add coolant?? How many miles on vehicle and engine size?? What condition is rest of vehicle?? Could be a cheap fix.


Send me a PM with your phone number and maybe we can get toghter too look for the leak.

Damnnnnnnn, it's exactly the same symptoms as my Cutlass Supreme. In my case, it was leaked by the lower intake manifold. The intake gasket is blown. It's a very hidden spot, but you can find it with a spot light and careful obsevation. In my case, it's very intermitent leak, and it leaks from manifold and get out down behind oil pan.

It has nothing to do with thermostat, since thermostat have nothing to do with heater. I don't know why (almost) everybody think it does. It can't be the water pump either.

If it's the lower intake gasket, it's a very expensive repair. It may also be head gasket.

My suggestion is don't put too much antifreeze. It's a waste.
About the smell, it's because AF leaks on hot engine parts and evaporates. It's normal, it'll not catch fire cause it's not enough hot.

The reason why it does that, it's because when it leaking from intake, coolant loose pressure. So it stops circulate into heater core and rad. Also, air pocket can be sucked into the system blocking the flow. Then when it heats up, pressure increase, water can circulate avoiding being leaked and gasket close. So cold coolant circulate from the rad to everywhere to cool the system almost instantly and heater works.