Hey all, I’m worried my car might have a head gasket problem. I can’t get a good test done because the tool won’t fit in the coolant tank. Any ideas for how to test for a bad head gasket? Or should I just call a mechanic?
First, remove the wiper cover. Take off the wiper arms with a 15mm wrench. Use a small tool to remove the clips, then a T25 torx to take out two screws holding the brake fluid container, and finally, four 10mm bolts holding the lower cover.
To test a 2016 Escape head gasket, make sure it’s a Ford Escape. If the head gasket is bad, you’ll know.
My car is a 2016 2.5L with 114,000 miles. I think I might have a bad head gasket.
The tool I got to test for leaks won’t fit in the coolant tank because the cap is in the back. I took the tank out, but the tool still wouldn’t seal. Any other ways to check for a bad head gasket? Or should I just go to a shop?
@Mary
If the head gasket went bad on a 2.5L at 114k miles, that would be strange. But I read your other post, and the problems you’re having could be a head gasket.
Angelina said:
@Mary
If the head gasket went bad on a 2.5L at 114k miles, that would be strange. But I read your other post, and the problems you’re having could be a head gasket.
Strange like, it’s usually too early for a 2.5L?
@Mary
They’ve never seen it happen.
I work at a Ford place, and I’ve never seen a 2.5 head gasket leak.
Austin said:
@Mary
They’ve never seen it happen.
I work at a Ford place, and I’ve never seen a 2.5 head gasket leak.
That’s good news. More people are saying it might not be the head gasket. I’ll watch it closely. If it gets bad, I’ll get someone to look at it.
@Mary
I don’t work there anymore, but I worked at Ford places for years and never saw a head gasket blow. The 2.5L is tough.
Angelina said:
@Mary
I don’t work there anymore, but I worked at Ford places for years and never saw a head gasket blow. The 2.5L is tough.
I remember reading that when I was looking at Escapes in 2020. Hoping that’s right!
The right way is to take off the cover, but there’s enough room to move the bottle, set it on its end, and be careful not to break the line (the hard plastic one). Good luck!
Aidan said:
The right way is to take off the cover, but there’s enough room to move the bottle, set it on its end, and be careful not to break the line (the hard plastic one). Good luck!
I moved the coolant bottle and tried the test. After 5 minutes, the liquid didn’t change color. The rubber cone didn’t seal well, so I’m not sure it worked.
@Mary
Maybe it’s not exhaust gases in the coolant. Also, the cones don’t seal well. They seal on the top, but the cap vent is on the inside. Maybe use an adapter from a pressure tester or block the hole.
@Mary
I read your other post. The water in the cap doesn’t look like a big problem. Your oil is good, and there’s no milky stuff in the valve cover. Do you have a problem with the heat sometimes? What’s it like after you fill up?
@Aidan
It’s a relief that the head gasket might not be the main thing. I drove a car with a bad head gasket before, and it was a lot of exhaust. Not like what I’ve had lately.
I’ll pay attention next time I fill up. I don’t think the problems I talked about in the other post were right after I filled the tank.
I don’t know if the heat is sometimes bad. It takes a while for the heater to get hot in the morning, especially if I’m just sitting there.
@Mary
Your car probably has a heater. Not a fair comparison. Lack of heat is usually the first sign of exhaust gas in the cooling system (could also be low coolant). Some “smoke” is normal when you start the car. It’s usually just water. Cold exhaust takes energy from the water, so when it hits the cold air, it condenses quickly, making it easy to see. As the exhaust warms, the moisture will be further away from the car before you can see it. For the sputtering, my guess is the purge valve. Stalling after fueling can mean the purge valve is stuck open because of the unexpected fueling conditions. Purge valve problems are weird.
@Aidan
Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.
I think I’ll just wait and see, and watch the coolant to be safe, and see if things get bad.
Next time I fill up, I’ll see how it acts. It hasn’t stalled yet.
Thanks again!
@Mary
That’s a good plan. You’re welcome, good luck!
@Mary
I find head gasket leaks with a tool in the cylinder while the cooling system has pressure.