Hello list,

Newbie question here...excuse me if this is answered elsewhere but I did not find it.

I have a 97 Taurus 3.0 liter...w/ 60K miles.
The problem is the brown sludge coolant, coolant loss, coolant smell, weird bubbling noises, lack of heat, etc.

AFAIK the car was never recalled. I do remember that the frost/freeze plugs were an issue.
I think the car was repaired by an independent (someone else owned it then).

I have reasonable skills and tools.
So my question(s)...can I fix this thing? If so, how?

Thanks
RC

 

You need to pressure test the Rad. to find out where its leaking , the brown sludge could mean a blown head gaskit , The Taurus's are famous for bad head gaskits

Theres a special tester that can sniff your coolant an tell if theres exhaust gases getting in the cooling system. Most any auto repair shop should be able to preform this test.

The lack of heat is possibly a faulty temp control. problem in the cab, have you looked to see if the heater core even has both hoses hooked up to it ?? some one may have bypassed it due to a fauly heater core

 

The system seems to be unmodified.
I have flushed the system as thoroughly as I know how...removed the heater hoses, radiator hoses, and some other lines I am not sure of.

I see a lot of the rust colored stain on the coolant recovery tank...looks like it is blowin out around the cap. Could that be the system is over-pressured from a failed head gasket?

I have read elsewhere of a 'kit' for the Taurus that has bypass fittings for the heater. Something about balancing coolant flow.

To elaborate further the heater works great when there is enough liquid in the system but it seems to be quickly getting rid of coolant.

 

Just thought I would follow up:

The leak finally got bad enough to see that it was on the front (passenger side) of the engine.
I replaced the water pump that turned out to be eaten up; the impeller had holes all throught it - serious corrosion.
I reassembled and the engine leaked worse (better system flow?)!
Careful inspection revealed a leak at the front corner of the left (front) head.
I started pulling it apart to get to the head and following the Haynes manual got to the accessory drive mount - the big aluminum casting on the front. Well, long story short there is a freeze plug on the end of the head behind that casting.
The hole was about 2mm but I was able to stick a screwdriver through the plug it was so badly corroded.
Replaced that and so far so good. With better coolant flow the heater works now. Duh!

Best of luck to all.
Happy holidays
RC

 

when your coolant is not mixed properly and is too strong it is like acid and eats at gaskets and causes all kinds of problems set it to -45