Oh No

[Lincoln Head]

Hey was wanting to hear what Shorod's thoughts on and big problem on my 03 V8 LS. A few months ago I replaced the head gaskets on the car it was loosing coolant then. after head gasket repair it was running great and has been. I eventually replaced the "coolant recovery bottle" because it was leaking. The LS was running great again then a couple weeks ago the temp gage jumped up I shut it down right away. had it towed home got under it and found coolant in both exhaust pipes. Ran a compression check it was fine in all 8 as far as I could see. It now gets hot and throwing coolant out the pipes. Any and all ideals welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks

P.S. No water or coolant in the oil pan.??

[shorod]

Is the coolant level dropping? I don't recall if your 2003 V8 has an electronic throttle body or if it's manual. If manual, it likely has coolant flowing through it. I'd start by checking that to make sure you don't just have a bad throttle body. But if that's fine, it would seem that you have either a cracked head between a coolant passage and the combustion chamber or a bad head gasket between a coolant passage and the combustion chamber. Since there is a crossover pipe in the exhaust it could get in to both tail pipes.

But I'd make absolutely certain that you're losing coolant before digging too deep. I'd also pull all 8 spark plugs and carefully inspect them for signs one or more are burning coolant.

I'm not terribly familiar with where all coolant could get in to the combustion chambers or exhaust on these cars and fortunately I never had a need to get that familiar....

Do you have access to a cooling system pressure tester? Sometimes these can help you find coolant leaks on a cold engine that would otherwise only show up when the engine is hot and up to pressure. If you don't have access to one and none of the tool stores loan them out, it may be worth the $80 or so to purchase one before tearing in to the engine.

-Rod

[Lincoln Head]

Well I am definitely sure it has lost coolant that's for sure. I know that is a very open ended answer. lol My 03 has the electronic throttle body. I have replaced 99% of all clams and hoses including radiator, climate control valve and thermostat on the cooling system. I have done nothing with the auxiliary waterpump that is on the system and actually don't know if it is working properly doesn't seem to be electrically shorted or leaking from its housing or hoses that go to the climate control system. I did replace the Degas bottle as it had visual evidence of leakage. I have a cooling system pressure tester but is for the old-school radiators and will have to either make or find hopefully the cap for mine that fits the bottle. Also I have concerns about air in the system. You really have to love these cars or they will drive "you" crazy!!! By the way you once gave me the sequence to preform a self diagnostics on the air conditioning climate control for my car would it be possible for you to send me that sequence again for that self test?? Working on it today I will get back to you with my findings. Thanks for the input seems to make sense.

[shorod]

Looks like I'll need you to send me a Private Message with your e-mail address. I don't find where I've sent out the DATC diagnostics for the 2003 LS, or I called it something other than "DATC".

-Rod

[Lincoln Head]

Well getting right to the bottom of it all,,,,,,,,,,,that little thermostat does a heck of a lot on these motors it seems that only half that's right only half the thermostat was working. Replaced it and coolant "but the coolant part is another story of it's own" all is well now with cooling system on the Lincoln..

[shorod]

Glad to hear you got it squared away and ultimately was a rather minor issue. Thank you for following up on your post!

-Rod