Antifreeze Problem

1989 Ford Thunderbird Standard 3.8 V6

OK, i just read the thread started by jasper002002, and my problem is similar to that one, but I have more problems. Well, like jasper002002 my heater is giving me problems. But it doesnt come and go, I dont get any heat at all. I noticed the temp. gauge getting higher than normal, especially since the outside tempature was around 30 degrees. The temp. gauge would actually go from hot to cold a number of times. Now before all this started, I drove my cousin to Advance Auto for a completely unrelated reason, and he said he smelled antifreeze in my car. I thought he was smelling something from the outside, because we were driving through an area filled with warehouses. As it turns out, he may have been right, I may have some type of antifreeze leak, but I havent noticed any antifreeze on the ground or in my car. The oil seems normal, but I have to wait for better lighting conditions to really know its condition. I know I'm not getting any heat in my car, no matter what the temp. gauge says. I was thinking a faulty thermostat, but I find it hard to believe this could be something that simple. The upper hose did get hot. I'm thinking I have a leak somewhere. I thought head gaskets especially since a lack of antifreeze on the ground. But the car ran fine up to the point it started over heating.

Just a quick note, my thermostat was replaced a little less than a year ago. And from what I remember, I didnt pay to much for it. I noticed in jasper002002's thread, someone asked if the thermostat was a cheap one. And one more thing, my car is equipped with a flex fan with a spacer, so i dont have a clutch fan. Some people say the flex fans can increase wear on the water pump.

Any help would be greatly appreciated here. Thanks all

Well the anti freeze smell suggests a heater core leak. But with the symptoms you are describing there should be A LOT of colant in your car on the floor. if your top hose isnt getting hot at all I would tend to think a blockage somewhere. Probably after because it sounds like the blockage might be enough to cause an increase in pressure a cause a small leak somewhere just enough to give off a smell but not really enough to get everything wet. Then again you could be right and it could be the water pump. However when they go they usually leak through the "weap" holes. Just my thoughts. Hope it helped at all.

Typo fix * coolant
"Probably after the heater core because .......... in pressure and cause a small leak"

Have the cooling system pressure tested to check for a leak. To tell if a head gasket is leaking, have the cooling system checked for combustion gasses. Is the system full with coolant with no air trapped? Are BOTH heater hoses about the same temperature? If they are both quite warm then you may have a problem with the blend door in the heater box not diverting air through the heater core. You may have multiple problems. Seeing that you have a 3.8, I would do the pressure and combustion gas checks first and if everything is all right then check the blend door.

well i just want to thank everyone for helping me out. but i'm afraid my problem is the kryptonite to ford 3.8 motors, blown head gasket. i'm going to see how the block sealant works. if the sealant from advance autoparts doesnt hold, than i'll check out some of the sealant ive seen online. one things for sure, i'm not dishing out the $$$ to have the head gaskets replaced......

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