[Jdro]

Just got home from driving from work and checked under the hood to check my coolant level but saw something disturbing. My coolant was bubbling. Was watching my temp and it never went above 195-196.
I just bought the car last week with 152k. Has to have the fuel tank deformation recall done and has codes. I filled the coolant tank because it was below the minimum line on Sunday and it’s still at full as it today. I hope it’s not what I think….. any ideas?

 

[ddfred]

Exhaust/combustion leaking into the coolant would be a likely suspect. Head gasket...

 

[Jdro]

that’s what I thought. SMH

 

[ddfred]

that’s what I thought. SMH

You can get an exhaust gas coolant test kit to be sure.

exhaust gas coolant tester - Google Search

 

[Jdro]

I def will get that done. I don’t know what else it can be though.

 

[Ryry]

Are they fine little bubbles from the degas line? The small line? If so it can just be cavitation. But if you’re talking with it sitting and just bubbling that’s not good.

 

[Jdro]

I just stopped my drive to pop the hood and yes it looked like it was coming from the degas line.

 

[JibbersCrabst]

Possibly relevant thread: CEL is on, for P144C

 

[Jdro]

Possibly relevant thread: CEL is on, for P144C

Thank you. I have an appt at the dealer to get the recall done for this. I doubt it’s related to the bubbles in the coolant. Can it have an effect? Car has not overheated and bubbles were coming up from the degas line. Also the cap may be cross threaded or the wrong cap? All things I need to check.

 

[Jdro]

I just stopped my drive to pop the hood and yes it looked like it was coming from the degas line.

Just to clarify my coolant was not boiling.

 

[Ryry]

I lost my mind thinking my head gasket was blown a few months ago after I lost a little coolant and noticed the small bubbles in degas line. Did pressure test and couldn’t find small leak, but after a new radiator cap and top off I’ve not lost a drop in 3k miles. Cheap easy thing to throw at it. Can be pulling air in that creates the cavitation effect. I googled lots of other ecoboost platform forums and checked coworkers cars and some small amount of cavitation seemed to be present on them when it had the small degas return where it hits the baffle to divert the flow when it enters the bottle.

could be your head gasket. But maybe it’s not. You can do the combustion gas checker to know for sure. Good luck!

 

[Jdro]

Took a photo and small video of where the small bubbles are coming from It’s from the top hose I just started the car after letting it sit since 6pm instantly little bubbles again I will try a new cap and then a tester Thank you for all the info Any more is always appreciated and will update

 

[Jdro]

Video.https://youtu.be/GXHPNGvAEiw

 

[Ryry]

Small Bubbles in Coolant Tank

I'm probably being paranoid, but a couple of times when I've popped the bonnet with the engine still running I've noticed small bubbles (5mm max) dancing around in the coolant tank. Not many, 2 or 3 at a time around the small hoses that feed into the tank. It's not a stream of bubbles, more like...

www.fiestastoc.com

 

[Jdro]

Small Bubbles in Coolant Tank

I'm probably being paranoid, but a couple of times when I've popped the bonnet with the engine still running I've noticed small bubbles (5mm max) dancing around in the coolant tank. Not many, 2 or 3 at a time around the small hoses that feed into the tank. It's not a stream of bubbles, more like...

www.fiestastoc.com

Thank you for this. I’m still going to do the exhaust gas coolant test just to be sure. But I’m a little calmer now lol.

 

[TurboGT]

There's a steady stream of coolant that sprays out of that bypass tube when the engine is running. What I'm seeing in the video is normal.

Definitely put a new cap on it just-because. At 150k it probably doesn't hold the pressure that it used to.

 

[Jdro]

Thank you again. Ordering the cap and testing kit now from Napa.

 

[Jdro]

Update** just ran the block test. No blown head gasket. Fluids stayed nice and blue. Will post my video soon. Next up. New cap for the expansion tank. But relieved on one front.

 

[Jdro]

Video of test.