Math Docta
New member
I have a friend with a 1998 Ford Taurus with a 3.0L V6 engine. Besides the fact that she owns a Ford, her problem is that it keeps overheating. Here are all the problems, which I'll post together because I think they're all related.
1. The engine overheats, particularly when at lower speeds or while idling.
2. When the heater is turned on, it blows cold air, as if the a/c is on.
3. The reservoir occasionally overflows, leaking coolant everywhere.
4. The coolant is gradually getting a little browner, but not necessarily oily.
I have seen numerous, NUMEROUS posts on Taurus forums of people experiencing these same four problems, but nobody gives a clear solution. I started by replacing the thermostat, but am not sure where I want to go from here. I suspect the engine has a blown head gasket, which these vehicles are notorious for, and which would explain the darkening coolant, but the vehicle shows no other obvious signs of a blown head gasket, and it will be the last thing I fix.
Any help or advise would be appreciated, but please don't include horribly obvious answers like checking the coolant level or the fans, which are working both at highers temps, and when the a/c is on. I think my next place to start would be the heater core, which I have yet to check for flow. Also FYI if anyone might mention a faulty heater control valve, this vehicle doesn't have one. Coolant flows through the heater core at all times.
Thanks for any input anyone might provide.
Michael
1. The engine overheats, particularly when at lower speeds or while idling.
2. When the heater is turned on, it blows cold air, as if the a/c is on.
3. The reservoir occasionally overflows, leaking coolant everywhere.
4. The coolant is gradually getting a little browner, but not necessarily oily.
I have seen numerous, NUMEROUS posts on Taurus forums of people experiencing these same four problems, but nobody gives a clear solution. I started by replacing the thermostat, but am not sure where I want to go from here. I suspect the engine has a blown head gasket, which these vehicles are notorious for, and which would explain the darkening coolant, but the vehicle shows no other obvious signs of a blown head gasket, and it will be the last thing I fix.
Any help or advise would be appreciated, but please don't include horribly obvious answers like checking the coolant level or the fans, which are working both at highers temps, and when the a/c is on. I think my next place to start would be the heater core, which I have yet to check for flow. Also FYI if anyone might mention a faulty heater control valve, this vehicle doesn't have one. Coolant flows through the heater core at all times.
Thanks for any input anyone might provide.
Michael