Go Green!!!

[sk8salomon]

For anti-freeze...just a quick story of how i about made a huge mistake. I walked out to the driveway this morning to find a huge puddle under my car. i got an old white t-shirt and got a sample, red! so i jacked up the car and slid underneath to look at the trans pan, sure enough, red liquid dripping down from the edge of the pan. so i went and got a drain pan, some RTV, 8mm socket and started to remove the pan bolts. i got a drop of liquid on my face and it didn't smell like oil, smelled more like stale water...so, after some investigation i found i really had a coolant leak. it was dripping down the block and on to the trans housing, then dribbling down the edge of the pan. the plastic housing for t-stat has three torx bolts, all were super loose, you could see daylight between the flange. i just flushed the entire system, on my way to the store for some green (non-enviro friendly) coolant.

[pyroinsa]

Your t-sat housing might be shot. Almost sounds like the o-ring has deteriorated causing the housing to become loose. I would keep an eye out for a coolant leak in the same spot. Yeah, I also switched to green coolant years ago as well.

[sk8salomon]

Originally Posted by pyroinsa

Your t-sat housing might be shot. Almost sounds like the o-ring has deteriorated causing the housing to become loose. I would keep an eye out for a coolant leak in the same spot. Yeah, I also switched to green coolant years ago as well.

ah, thanks. so maybe just tightening up the bolts won't fix the prob. maybe i should remove the housing completely and take a look? i'm sure a new gasket will be worth much more than draining the system again later.

[RonMaiden]

Just the feel of the fluid should've tipped you off it was anti-freeze instead of tranny fluid and the backup check can be to touch a sample on your tongue which coolant will immediatly have a sweet taste. Kinda gross but it works.

[pyroinsa]

The o-ring is molded into the plastic housing, if it's shot you will need a new housing. This might give you a better idea:

http://www.focushacks.com/mod/Replac...mostat_housing

[sk8salomon]

Originally Posted by pyroinsa

The o-ring is molded into the plastic housing, if it's shot you will need a new housing. This might give you a better idea:

http://www.focushacks.com/mod/Replac...mostat_housing

thanks pyro, just went out and took a look. i think i got lucky on this one. what was leaking was the t-stat retainer connection, not the damaged flange in the link you showed. the daylight gap i had was in this part, when i took apart there is no gasket there, just plastic to plastic connection. i'm just going to tighten it back up and see how it goes. good to know tho for next time. thanks again!

[bringler26]

Ford recommends Motorcraft Gold for their vehicles except for on newer vehicles I've noticed they have been switching to red. You can also you green usually.

[mjd4277]

Originally Posted by RonMaiden

Just the feel of the fluid should've tipped you off it was anti-freeze instead of tranny fluid and the backup check can be to touch a sample on your tongue which coolant will immediatly have a sweet taste. Kinda gross but it works.

Umm,put this down on the "How to get a Darwin Award" list.

[RonMaiden]

No,it's just a little old school. Sometimes you need a quick diagnosis and alot o people know the "taste" and feel of vital fluids which on the fly is a helpful thing and I've seen it alot at the dragstrip. I didn't say I was ingesting it. If the OP did the same (or the touch test) he would've saved himself the trouble and had the diagnosis in a few seconds.

[mjd4277]

Originally Posted by RonMaiden

No,it's just a little old school. Sometimes you need a quick diagnosis and alot o people know the "taste" and feel of vital fluids which on the fly is a helpful thing and I've seen it alot at the dragstrip. I didn't say I was ingesting it. If the OP did the same (or the touch test) he would've saved himself the trouble and had the diagnosis in a few seconds.

Old school is being able to "smell" the difference between antifreeze/coolant and transmission fluid,let alone being able to tell the difference by looking at it. Whether you ingest the stuff or not it still can travel thru your blood stream-not a good thing.