Windstar losing coolant

[bigdaddyvolvo780]

I own a 2002 Ford Windstar SE 3.8 litre v-6 with 105k on the engine. It is losing a little coolant. However I don't see any visible coolant leak on the engine or on the ground. The oil is not "milky" so where could it be leaking? It runs great. Doesn't overheat at all. Thanks for any responses.

[tomj76]

Coolant can be lost in several places...

Water-pump seal... small drip at front of engine.
Engine front cover gasket... can enter engine, or drip from front of oil pan.
Hoses/pipes... often obvious leaks.
heater core pin hole... You might smell the coolant inside, or find a wet carpet.
radiator pin hole.... I can usually smell coolant from a leaking radiator before I can see it.
intake gaskets... leaks are difficult to find without removing the manifold. Sometimes coolant can be seen between the manifold and the valve cover. Thick white smoke from the exhaust is the classic sign.

A small coolant leak into the engine can be detected with chemical analysis of the oil. Even small amounts of coolant in the oil is a major wear issue for the engine. There are services that will perform the analysis and return a report.