2000 Windstar coolant leak mystery

[TeslaCoils]

Can anyone ID these 2 ports for me, on a 1999 Windstar?
1 disconnected tube
& 1 unused tube port....


BTW, thanks for this post, guys!
This cleared up a lot of mysteries of "WHY??!!"

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by TeslaCoils

Can anyone ID these 2 ports for me, on a 1999 Windstar?
1 disconnected tube
& 1 unused tube port....


BTW, thanks for this post, guys!
This cleared up a lot of mysteries of "WHY??!!"

This Post is 10 years old!!!!
Best to let sleeping dogs along some will bit.
Start a new post for good help on your problem.

[12Ounce]

Your cooling system is showing signs of neglect. I suspect someone has used water, without anti-freeze, in the past ... and rust has formed. If one is forced to used plain water as coolant, something should always be included to prevent corrosion and rust. There are marketed additives available, I always just add (two tablespoons per gallon) of baking soda. This raises the PH somewhat to help prevent corrosion. As soon as possible, I switch to 50-50 antifreeze water mix.

About the hoses: I would recommend you look under the hood of a similar Windstar (does it have/have not rear heater as yours?) to get an idea of what is going on.

[phil-l]

I have an '00 3.8 Windstar - which is mechanically nearly identical to the '99 - and there are many things I don't recognize in your pictures.

I suspect that you have the much-less-common 3.0 Windstar - which means the cooling system plumbing doesn't match mine.

Given that there aren't nearly as many 3.0 Windstars out there, it will be a challenge to find a similar van out there to compare to yours.

I'd start looking for a quality shop manual that has good underhood diagrams for your van.

[12Ounce]

Good catch! I do see now that is probably a 3.0L.

[12Ounce]

Its a bit off-subject, but why do some object to using a very old posting? .... if it is a related subject to one's current question?

Can't there be good info in an old posting? What of the writings of Moses, Plutarch, Martin Luther, and others ... too old to be worthwhile? Should we just turn the Dead Sea Scrolls into compost? Glad the Constitution is on parchment. (It is on parchment, isn't it?)

There must be a legitimate concern, I just have never read it ....??

[phil-l]

Old threads coming back to life doesn't particularly bug me.

I get how it happens: Someone is Googling a problem - and an old thread happens to nicely match the wording used in their search.

The challenge comes when someone adds to an old thread - but there's also three pages of intervening discussion that was relevant at the time, but isn't related to the new poster's concern.

It probably makes more sense to start a new thread in such cases - but new members might not be aware of how things work on a forum.

So I just respond to the topic at hand, no matter where it shows up, and try to help where I can.

[phil-l]

Regarding "TeslaCoils" questions: Yes, this is the 3.0 "Vulcan" powered Windstar, which is substantially different from the more common 3.8 engine.

For what it's worth, here's a short video of the engine compartment of a 3.0 Windstar, which might help answer some questions of where some hoses and tubes go. It isn't likely quite detailed enough to answer all of your questions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zMCsXr_Dy4

Sadly, this one also appears to have a rust-colored engine coolant reservoir. Between that and the loud tapping sound, I'd say this engine has lived a hard life.

[tomj76]

FYI, online Ford Factory Manuals:

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/Purchase/ViewProduct

Just make sure you select a shorter time period for a "reasonable" price.

You used to be able to get it for a specific model for about $30/month. I don't know if they dropped that option or I can't find it.

[phil-l]

Thanks for sharing!

I like the idea that Ford offers service manuals on-line - but they don't seem to have a pricing option that makes sense for the DIYer. I see nothing even close to $30/month. Even their $22 for 72 hours wouldn't make sense for most people.

There's a "Free Resources" link on the page above it, https://www.motorcraftservice.com/. I went through a number of the links. The "Paper/CD Manuals" link looks promising - but it just goes to Helm Inc. - which charges. The other links didn't seem to offer much value to the home mechanic.

[tomj76]

I purchased the Helm manual. It's a Ford manual, they just outsource it. It looks like Helm doesn't offer the service manual any longer.

The on-line service can still be OK, you just have to print everything that you need before the subscription ends. Keep in mind that the on-line service is ALL the manuals; the service manual, the emissions manual, the electrical wiring manual, the TSBs, and probably the parts catalogue as well. The last time I used it I paid $18 for a month of access.

https://www.diyrepairmanuals.com/products.asp?cat=2687

[wiswind]

I can tell at a glance.....the aluminum upper intake manifold, that this is a 3.0L engine.
Much less common.....not as much pep.......but MUCH more reliable....not that the 3.8L version is nearly as bad as its reputation.

The cooling system needs a GOOD cleaning.
If the overall vehicle is still in good shape....no reason not to give it some TLC.
I'm super cheap as far a vehicles are concerned....though I have no holding back as far as keeping the old girl going with very good quality parts and service (service that I do myself when I can do it.....and having a TRUSTED mechanic do things that I'm not comfortable doing myself).
Keeping up on routine maintenance is CRITICAL to keeping our old girls going.....and saving us MANY, MANY $$$$$ in the long run.

The 3.0L is a work horse....and should keep you going for a long time.
As mentioned.....there are very few 3.0L versions vs the 3.8L, so a lot more digging is in order to get the information you need.

[TeslaCoils]

Updates (need to ID T tube above WaterPump)
&...
the hose mystery was the prior owner (gov.)
bypassed the upper water jacket.
OTHER solved mystery:
Gov. ordered (or replaced) a 1996-era 3.0 V6 engine
into a 1999 body, per the 3 bolt thermostat cover/ water housing.

The above NEW Mystery tube:
(again: 1996-era 3.0 V6 engine )
Note the mini-Abcess at the T junction
(out of view, when the bracket is hanging from the engine bock)
No parts store can ID it (esp. when going in to talk to fellow old timers),
the ford parts sites have been useless (so far)
& Dorman's (est'b. 1918! Yay, something older than me! )... not yet.
https://www.Dormanproducts.com/

Kudos:
Permatex Steel Weld (liquid epoxy, not paste) held a pinhole spray back,
for 2 months, until the metal evidently cascade failed into too big of a hole.
Hmmm... Honestly, I think that original hole is still sealed & this is a new one.

Pix: