Questions and Answers

Ford E-150 Q. I need someone who can help. For about 6 months, my husband has gone from shop to shop, and has now replaced 2 hoses, a radiator (we know we needed), a fan clutch, the thermostat (twice!) We are still having a problem with the engine showing hot.

It doesn't do it all of the time, it will show hot a short time after driving a little while, it may go all the way to the almost red line, and then it may go back to below half way. We may drive for a while with no abnormal showing, or it may be like this for several minutes (showing hot.) I can watch it "Zoom" up fast, and then zoom right back down.

We have now been advised to do the head gasket. The mechanic says that although it hasn't shown the usual signs, white smoke, water in the oil, he has let it get "hot" and watch a bubble come up in the radiator, and water will spout up. He also mentioned the possibility of a vacuum leak, could this be a sign of that?

As far as the way it runs, most the time ok, although sometimes it doesn't seem to have as much power.

One thing that I've also noticed, when we are accelerating, the A/C fan will seem to shut off, and it won't start on again until I almost completely take my foot off the gas. I don't know if this is related???

Any ideas?
Beth

A. Before I would go into the possibility of a bad head gasket I would put in a new coolant temp sensor. Engine heating doesn't happen as fast as you indicate. It may be quick, but it's always gradual.

As for the A/C fan going off under acceleration, that may be normal. Most A/C systems will shut off when hard acceleration is detected to make more power available for the conditions.

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