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My wife and daughter each have a 1997 Mercury Cougar with a 3800 V6. My wife’s cougar has less than 50,000 miles on it and the daughter’s car has over 110,000 miles on it. Each vehicle has above average appearance and has been well maintained. Additionally, each vehicle has a good transmission and air conditioning system and does not leak oil.
Each of these vehicles has a tendency to “use” coolant and, when the low coolant light comes on, we add about 8 OZ. of coolant to the coolant overflow tank. Each cougar uses less than one gallon per year.
At the last visit to an independent garage, who has serviced our vehicles for years, the mechanic recommended that we replace the intake manifold and head gaskets (it may have been one or the other or both) at a cost of over $2000. I declined the service and said that I planned to simply continue to add coolant unless the coolant loss becomes more severe at which time I will donate the vehicle to charity.
My question is does not the Ford 3800 V6 of the 1997 model year have a problem with intake and head gaskets?
Also, isn’t $2000 a little high for replacing head and manifold gaskets?
Each of these vehicles has a tendency to “use” coolant and, when the low coolant light comes on, we add about 8 OZ. of coolant to the coolant overflow tank. Each cougar uses less than one gallon per year.
At the last visit to an independent garage, who has serviced our vehicles for years, the mechanic recommended that we replace the intake manifold and head gaskets (it may have been one or the other or both) at a cost of over $2000. I declined the service and said that I planned to simply continue to add coolant unless the coolant loss becomes more severe at which time I will donate the vehicle to charity.
My question is does not the Ford 3800 V6 of the 1997 model year have a problem with intake and head gaskets?
Also, isn’t $2000 a little high for replacing head and manifold gaskets?