I topped off the coolant once I saw it started last night. Hasn’t changed since this morning except less smoke. The car was stuttering while idling yesterday when I was at a stop sign or anything. Would start to rev up in RPMs. (Side note: randomly telling me key fob battery is dying too?) Anybody know anything about this?
Well if you just started your car and it’s 10 degrees outside. You’re fine.
If you just drive around town for a while and this is still happening… Gg’s bro get out the checkbook.
Anik said:
Well if you just started your car and it’s 10 degrees outside. You’re fine.
If you just drive around town for a while and this is still happening… Gg’s bro get out the checkbook.
I should add that this car has had the head gasket issue before with my brother. I paid good money to fix it and get it back on the road. The smoke smells like shit and that’s how I know it ain’t just the cold weather.
@Carmine
How did you fix it? New head gasket or new engine? If it’s coolant intrusion, the only real fix is a new, updated engine.
Peyton said:
@Carmine
How did you fix it? New head gasket or new engine? If it’s coolant intrusion, the only real fix is a new, updated engine.
From what I know I’m pretty sure we dumped some head gasket seal in there. Had some other issues as well because it sat for 2 years but I’m pretty sure that was the issue.
@Carmine
Um… yeah, that’s not ‘good money to fix it.’ That’s not fixing it at all… is this a troll?
Shea said:
@Carmine
Um… yeah, that’s not ‘good money to fix it.’ That’s not fixing it at all… is this a troll?
This is my first car. If I still had the bill, I’d show you. I paid around 3 grand at a Ford mechanic shop to fix the car. I can smell something from the exhaust from the inside of the car and it smells like shit. I wouldn’t be posting in here if I was a troll, lmfao.
@Carmine
Ok, no judgment, and I hope they did more. But stop leak or gasket sealer is a band-aid meant to get your car to the mechanic. You have a blown head gasket and need it replaced ASAP. It will be pricey because of the labor involved, but if you run it like that long, that engine will be toast.
@Shea
Yeah, the car had other issues alongside but this was the primary one. It was on band-aids I knew that and the car has lasted me since last May but has been in the family for years. I’m not going to be surprised if it’s a blown head gasket. But at this rate if that is the issue, then I’m not too sure what to do next with it. Might be time to move on?
@Carmine
Nah, used car prices the way they are, I’d put a grand in a new head gasket for sure.
Shea said:
@Carmine
Nah, used car prices the way they are, I’d put a grand in a new head gasket for sure.
Not wrong. I’m always window shopping. If I had more money to spend I would. Appreciate the help.
@Carmine
If you did that, this engine is toast, and don’t do that again. Throwing a bunch of money at it would mean removing the heads, decking the block, and replacing the gasket.
All of your coolant passages are probably about clogged.
@Carmine
So. I’m in the same boat. I have a 2016 with an engine swap less than 2 years ago. Transmission swap less than a year ago. I just got coolant intrusion and severe leak from trans. If it has a warranty I’d fix it and sell it. That’s my plan. No white smoke yet. But got the chocolate milk going.
@Bay
Built Ford Tough™
@Carmine
Yeah I’m going to be real with you, it’s probably not worth it to fix this. The way it sounds is you kicked this can down the road a few times and now it’s time to deal with it.
It’s a gamble to pay to even get the heads opened up to see what’s wrong.
If you just started it and it’s cold, normal. My Escape with the 2.0 is way worse than that when cold. After 10 or 15 minutes on the freeway, it clears up. It was below zero when I got off work and my car didn’t come off high idle for like 10 minutes 
.
I blow the same amount on my 2017 Energi SE:joy: when starting in morning (Michigan weather is like 8 degrees in the morning) and driving (22 degrees in the evening). Even when parked, I still blow smoke.
@Jaden
I lied actually, it’s a little less. I just went to go check but idk I’m at 93k miles and am gonna do a drain and fill for my transmission but I’ve also had a diesel in mine because of a crossover so I’m already worried about mine.
No car expert here. But my experience with stuttering and revs higher than usual was really early signs of my transmission giving.