Windstar coolant problem?! HELP!!!!

We recently bought a ford 98 ford windstar minivan v6 3.8l.
I did a tune-up (based on Haynes and hints from other forumists) and change couple things such as the air filter and / the drivebelt.

While exploring the engine, here is what I discovered:
The coolant had a strange color (dirty?) and seemed contaminated and the engine oil seemed to have lost its viscoity (I changed the oil recently!) and appear black. However, I have not noticed a drop in the level of the coolant tank since I bought the car. What could the problem be?

Someone told me that they might have put a stop leak in the coolant just so that they could sell it and maybe the headgasket were blown
Does anyone know of the least expensive way to replace them if that is the case? Are there TSB on the 1998? Also the other day, the oil pressure light started flickering but then dissappeared.


Your help is very much appreciated.

i have had success in correcting head gasket leaks using block seal. there are several manufactures that mke some. i use K&W. the thing to remember is to follow the directions to the letter. there can be no residual antifreeze in the engine. I remove the thermostat and flush the engine and heater core(s) several times until the water is crystal clear coming out. then add the block seal per mfr directions. the coolant system will have to be open for a day or two after adding the seal. i would make sure that the head gasket is bown before attmpting this. the most common indication os a blown hg is brown milky sustance on the oil dipstick. hore this helps.

I keep Bar's Stop Leak in my coolant all the time.
There are several small leaks in the coolant system that can develop...and the stop leak will keep them sealed...and fix them as soon as they happen.
Some new car manufactures put stop leak in at the factory....

Places that are common for leaks on the post '95 windstar. Head gaskets are not nearly as high fail as on the '95 year. Lower intake manifold gaskets are more common of a leak...and give you coolant into the cylinder(s). The "Timing chain cover"....also called "front cover"...which on the front wheel drive windstar is on the passenger side. The front cover has the water pump and oil pump on it. It is a major repair job. Stop leak has kept both of those leaks under control for quite a long time in my '96. I had a slow drop in the coolant level in the overflow bottle. Now it does not drop at all.
It sounds like you may have seapage.like I did....which is what the stop leak is great at keeping in check.

We recently bought a ford 98 ford windstar minivan v6 3.8l.
I did a tune-up (based on Haynes and hints from other forumists) and change couple things such as the air filter and / the drivebelt.

While exploring the engine, here is what I discovered:
The coolant had a strange color (dirty?) and seemed contaminated and the engine oil seemed to have lost its viscoity (I changed the oil recently!) and appear black. However, I have not noticed a drop in the level of the coolant tank since I bought the car. What could the problem be?

Someone told me that they might have put a stop leak in the coolant just so that they could sell it and maybe the headgasket were blown
Does anyone know of the least expensive way to replace them if that is the case? Are there TSB on the 1998? Also the other day, the oil pressure light started flickering but then dissappeared.


Your help is very much appreciated. hello i own a 96 ford windstar good motors 3.8 marvels mystery oil is the best on the market for cleaning interior parts of motor pistons rings oil pump oil pump filter n screen returning oil pressure its been around for years , a product called sea foam is good for cleaning fuel injection system components and can be added to the oil crank case the 3.8 motors in 96 had a problem with the heads in which was a call back is what i would do is check the thermostat and change the coolant by removing the thermostat place in water on stove top if it opens up its good remove the pea cok at bottom of radiator change coolant fluid if u have a head gasket problem - warped heads and are mechanically inclined have the heads shaved the 3.8 liter motor is a strong one and worth the time and moneyif the head gasket was bad n the bars sealed it then thats a good thingthe level of the coolant dropped slightly

hello i own a 96 ford windstar good motors 3.8 marvels mystery oil is the best on the market for cleaning interior parts of motor pistons rings oil pump oil pump filter n screen returning oil pressure its been around for years , a product called sea foam is good for cleaning fuel injection system components and can be added to the oil crank case the 3.8 motors in 96 had a problem with the heads in which was a call back is what i would do is check the thermostat and change the coolant by removing the thermostat place in water on stove top if it opens up its good remove the pea cok at bottom of radiator change coolant fluid if u have a head gasket problem - warped heads and are mechanically inclined have the heads shaved the 3.8 liter motor is a strong one and worth the time and moneyif the head gasket was bad n the bars sealed it then thats a good thingthe level of the coolant dropped slightly the other thing is the uil pan on my 96 can easily be removed which will gain access to the oil pump n SCEEN these screens tend to get clogged oil burns creates a sludge and creates a( hard rock like type golf ball sized oil rock) in which reduces oil pressure to the motor thats what i would expect for oil pressure being faulty not up to par

the other thing is the uil pan on my 96 can easily be removed which will gain access to the oil pump n SCEEN these screens tend to get clogged oil burns creates a sludge and creates a( hard rock like type golf ball sized oil rock) in which reduces oil pressure to the motor thats what i would expect for oil pressure being faulty not up to par
for 30.00 u can go to parts america and purchase the special unit to scan ur computer and all codes reads all emmissions OBD11 scanning tool in which willl plug in under the dash or pay a 130,00 and buy the scan tool that works on most cars including yours and look up ford vehicle emmissions codes