Hey guys. I just got the bird on the road for the spring. Took it out for a short drive and smelled antifreeze. Yikes.There was antifreeeze gushing out of the Heater valve on the manifold. There was no pressure in the rad hose and the rad was cold. Does this sound like a stuck thermostat? There was some leaking from underneath the car. Did I blow something else as well? I check transmission fluid to see if there was any antifreeze in the trans fluid. That was OK.I checked Engine Oil level on the dipstick and it is clean as a whistle and the exact level. There is no smell of antifreeze on the dipstick. Further investigation shows a yellow mustard substance in the down draft tube and a trace of antifreeze or condensation inside the valve covers. The valve train was clean as a whistle.There was no sludge on any of the valve stems or springs. Perhaps a blown head gasket?

Are we talking engine overhaul?





Thanks

Nat:

The coolant leaking from the heater water control valve is a bad valve.  It has a bad diaphragm.  Coolant evidence inside the valve covers could point to leaking head gaskets or a cracked head.  The thermostat isn't the real issue here.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Despite all your worries, its as Hoosier says - just a bad heater control valve.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

The junk in the road draft tube is condensation that sticks to the oil residue and is normal,I see it now and then in my late model cars on the oil fill caps during cold months.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

Guys, I'm a bit puzzled. Unless Nat's drive was VERY short, a cold radiator & flaccid upper hose would certainly concern ME. Might a stuck thermostat & thus an overheated block have precipitated the heater valve failure? If so, he may well have a leaky head gasket NOW.



P.S. He didn't say how cold his winter storage was, but an unheated garage would likely explain the accumulated condensation under the valve covers.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

How short was the drive? And the leaking under the car is also likely from the heater valve. If there was no indication of overheating, there's likely no more wrong than the valve.

Paul

How short was the drive? And the leaking under the car is also likely from the heater valve. If there was no indication of overheating, there's likely no more wrong than the valve.

Paul

I got the car into the shop. The heater valve was leaking from the around the threads. The main leak appears to be an intake manifold gasket that is leaking. I will let my mechanic handle this one. Thanks for your input

Hoosier you were correct. It was a bad heater Valve. I have by passed it until the part comes in.

Thanks for the help.

Hey guys,

Could the thermostat be installed backwards, and which way is the correct way????

Mike