[Bradrock]

Howdy folks! My first post on a great forum.
I just bought a 99 Deville with 98,000 miles. If I had found this forum & read the above sticky on head gasket failure ,I may have passed on the car! Heh..Heh
Anyhow , it's mine now...
After 45 years of wrenching on Ford iron , I must say that I'm having a ball learning about the Northstar!
One of the first things I've noticed in my "after purchase exam" is a copper film floating on the coolant. When I stick my finger in it looks like copper anti seize.
I'm wondering if copper is used in any of the " Miracle" sealants" ? Did the seller do a quicky temp cure for gasket leak?

I plan to flush & fill the system soon. Or maybe I should pass this gem off before it blows?
The car looks like new inside & under the hood. Runs out great. For $2000.00 It would not have to last long to make me happy!

But.....................Any idears what the copper in the coolant could be?

Thanks for any info!
I'm already thinking of buying a used Northstar to re-build for a spare. I HAVE to see inside one!!

 

[samert]

It sounds like someone has used one of the cooling system stop leaks. Bars Leak has one called Liquid Copper, not sure if that's what was used and I don't know much about any of these miracle cures in a bottle, I've never used them.

Keep a close eye on the engine temp gage (it typically should run halfway up) and coolant level in the expansion tank. The correct level in the tank is about half full or 2" below the filler cap.

If it starts to overheat or lose coolant, check for obvious leaks and repair as necessary. One of the typical leak points is the coolant crossover gaskets on the drivers side of the engine that connects both cylinder heads, houses the water pump and thermostat.

 

[Ranger]

Copper film in the coolant can only mean one thing.

 

[Bradrock]

Thanks guy's! That must be it. I've not seen this product before. The Bars leaks I've used looks more like molasses mixed with rat turds. I guess I'm on the hunt for a leak & hope for now it's not head gaskets.
I won't let it get me down. Just learning something new is almost worth what I paid for the car.
I found another 99 Deville for $800.00 with anti freeze in the oil. I might buy it & start re building that engine one piece at a time.

 

[Submariner409]

Welcome to the Funny Farm !!! :highfive:

Sounds and looks like you got fished in.............. and the '99 is the worst (after the '98) for head gasket cylinder block bolt hole thread failures. (It's not the head gaskets - it's the block threads that fail, the bolts lose tension, the gasket fails.)

When buying engines or parts, be sure you get the correct year and engine type - if your car is the base model you have the 275 hp 3.11 drive engine. VIN Y - the 8th character of the VIN. (The VIN 9 is the 300 hp 3.71 setup)

 

[Ranger]

First thing I thought of when I saw your profile was, oh, another '99. You'd do well to forget the '99's and and move up a year.

 

[Bradrock]

Well, right now the car runs out great. There is no outward sign of gasket failure. Other than the Bars leaks in the coolant. But knowing what I now do , I could not in good conscience pass it off on someone else. So I think I will do the exhaust gas in the block test. If it passes that I could sleep at night after selling it off ( I hope) Too many years in the Boy Scouts I guess.
The interior is super clean. Under the hood looks almost new. The trunk looks like never used & the body is not bad for a 15 year old car.
Maybe I can recoup some of the $2,500 or so I have into it & move on.
Sure is a sweet ride though...................................
I live in a very rural town of 700 people . not good to burn a neighbor . I'd hate to have my house burned down! Heh..Heh
The car has NOT gone over 195 deg. for me & I drove it 100 miles home through the Ozark hills.