Hello

I have a 1996 ford windstar and it is loosing radiatorfluid some where. Can not find out where. The oil is not milky and looks good. Can not find any water puddles under it. Where els could it be going?? This problem seems to come and go. Did not do it during the summer. But as soon as I started to ues the haeter it seems to be loosing fluid now.

Also the heater is blowing cold air.

 

3.8 liter, I'll bet....With the vehicel cold start engine for 1 minute (just enough to pressurive cooling system) or start it long enough to drive on to ramps. Engine must be cold, exhaustmust not get hot. I will bet you find that on the top inner lip of the front cat it will be wet (the one just inside of the passenger tire, nearly under the crack pulley). The 1995 3.8 liter was know to leak coolant thru the timing cover bolts that run into the water jacket. You may also notice a sweet hot coolant smell. The cats warm up and cook of the coolant before it can reach the ground. Now bad news, possible damages: 1. timing chain most likely and it is a 12 hour ford mechanic/book time job and can take longer. 2. leak also made it's way to front crank bearing, and NO it will not show a milky substance on the oil cap as with most coolant leaks that get into the oil, but it will destroy the bearing.........Had this happen, yes the timing chain was replaced, 30 days later started getting bottom end noise, ended up replacing the motor...................

 

tomb is correct, and the 3.8 also had problems with head gaskets. When I worked at the dealer, we called it package A,B,or C depending on which leaks were evident at the time.

Check engine light on? Lean or misfire codes could be due to coolant leaking into one or more cylinders, usually 3 or 4.