98 Windstar coolant dirty, cel flashing, rough running...
ma24qtz
10-28-2008, 10:34 PM
I have a 98 Ford Windstar with 153000 miles on it. This morning on the way to take the kids to school, the car started running a bit rough and the Service
Engine soon light started flashing. Well I parked, took them and came out to start the van and had a cloud of white smoke come out the tail pipe. I never had this happen so I shut it off and waited a few minutes (then called my dad.lol) He said to check the coolant and oil levels, fill it and see if I could make it home. The coolant was brown in the reserve tank (about 3/4 full) and the oil was brown not milky and full also. I restarted the car and drove the 4 miles home. The Engine light was on but not flashing and the car ran a bit rough on the way home. My dad came down, drove the car around said it ran fine and no light. He let it cool down and then test drove it again. Said it did run a bit rough after the car warmed up but no check engine light or smoke.
He think I have a blown head gasket or cracked head. Does this sound right? He said he parts were around $400 and it might be better to get a rebuilt engine in there instead as he can get one for around $700.
Thanks for your help
Engine soon light started flashing. Well I parked, took them and came out to start the van and had a cloud of white smoke come out the tail pipe. I never had this happen so I shut it off and waited a few minutes (then called my dad.lol) He said to check the coolant and oil levels, fill it and see if I could make it home. The coolant was brown in the reserve tank (about 3/4 full) and the oil was brown not milky and full also. I restarted the car and drove the 4 miles home. The Engine light was on but not flashing and the car ran a bit rough on the way home. My dad came down, drove the car around said it ran fine and no light. He let it cool down and then test drove it again. Said it did run a bit rough after the car warmed up but no check engine light or smoke.
He think I have a blown head gasket or cracked head. Does this sound right? He said he parts were around $400 and it might be better to get a rebuilt engine in there instead as he can get one for around $700.
Thanks for your help
LeSabre97mint
10-28-2008, 10:45 PM
ma24qtz
Welcome to AFs!
Chances are your lower intake manifold gaskets are bad causing the coolant to enter the engine and thus the white smoke.
The flashing check engine light (CEL) means that the engine is misfiring. On my 98 this was caused by pluged EGR ports. These can be cleaned when the lower intake gaskets are changed.
Regards
Dan
Welcome to AFs!
Chances are your lower intake manifold gaskets are bad causing the coolant to enter the engine and thus the white smoke.
The flashing check engine light (CEL) means that the engine is misfiring. On my 98 this was caused by pluged EGR ports. These can be cleaned when the lower intake gaskets are changed.
Regards
Dan
wiswind
10-29-2008, 09:31 AM
Dito on the lower intake manifold gaskets.
They leak coolant into the intake.....which is drawn on into the cylinder(s).....often mis-diagnosed as a head gasket failure.
There are tests that can be done to determine if it is the head gasket or lower intake manifold gasket.
A head gasket job requires that you get new lower intake manifold gaskets as part of the repair......but the cost is much higher than just a lower intake manifold gasket replacement.
They leak coolant into the intake.....which is drawn on into the cylinder(s).....often mis-diagnosed as a head gasket failure.
There are tests that can be done to determine if it is the head gasket or lower intake manifold gasket.
A head gasket job requires that you get new lower intake manifold gaskets as part of the repair......but the cost is much higher than just a lower intake manifold gasket replacement.
ma24qtz
10-29-2008, 12:43 PM
Another quick question. My dad said that he let the van cool, pulled cap off, made sure it was full, let the car warm up on a fast idle and said there were bubbles coming up. He said that this means it is a head gasket. Can the lower intake manifold gasket leak cause this too?
Thanks so much for your help
Thanks so much for your help
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