2000 Ford Escort oil and heater

PHILLWON

MEMBER
2000 FORD ESCORT
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
98,000 MILES

About 2 weeks ago I discovered oil on the front offside wheel and wheel arch, I checked the oil and looked for an oil leek, everything seemed fine, then these last couple of days, the heater packed up and then it started to overheat while I was on a motorway, then it seemed to correct itself until a few miles later it overheated again. I checked to see if there was an oil leek but cannot detect anything other than oil on the steering rack, could you help.

7 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

If you could include a pic of the where the oil is. Secondly check the coolant level to see if the coolant is low. You say the oil is on the wheel arch, which side (left is drivers) and is it oil or grease from the axle boot? Get back to me with what you find.

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Thursday, January 7th, 2010 AT 10:23 AM

PHILLWON

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Can't get a picture at the moment, drivers side on the right (UK), coolant level has gone from expansion tank but now it seems it was not oil, (I think) it was the coolant and anti-freeze, would it be a hose but there is no coolant loss at the moment but I have not let the engine run just in case I do further damage. There seems to be no water in the oil, so hopefully it is not a head gasket.

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Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 3:46 AM

RACEFAN966

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Yes it could be a hose. It could be a bypass hose or radiator hose or heater hose or just a loose clamp. I would look for any signs of leak by looking for a clean spot where there is no grease but yet there is on either side. As long as there is oil pressure and the car don't overheat there is no problem with running to check it. If nothing else have the radiator pressure tested to check for leaks anywhere. What side it is leaking on (as if you where in the drivers seat). Let me know what you find.

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Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 8:57 AM

PHILLWON

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Thanks for your time, If you sit in the drivers seat which is on the right in the UK, the leak was coming from the right side. I have since filled up with coolant and let it run up to normal running temperature, then let it run for a while to see if the fan would kick in. The fan did not come on and the temperature did not rise, this is not normal is it? Cannot find any leaks, this is weird.

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Sunday, January 10th, 2010 AT 5:09 AM

RACEFAN966

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Well if it don't come to temp then the fan won't come on. The only way to know is to check it with an infered thermometer so you can see what the temp is. Now as for the leak, is you heater core on the left side of the car? If so then I would check for a window leak.