A "Ford 1994 Explorer" question for mechanics

[Bob O]

My son owns a 1994 Ford Explorer and in Dec his engine had to be replaced because of what we were told was a gasket leak, the car wouldnt run and when we took it in we would told of the gasket leak, but not what fluid was leaking.
He had a used engine with approx 88,000 miles put into the car and after having the car for 1 month his check engine light has now come on and on Sat we looked at the engine and found the anti-freeze container empty so we fill it up. Now on monday i again checked the anti-frreze and the reserve container is again empty but we have found no puddles of anti-freeze underneath the car,
Do you think this is the cause for the check engine light going on,,and where is the anti-freeze going too?? Could this have caused the first engine he had to go kaput?? And should have the shop that put in the neew used engine found this out??
I dont know much about cars so any info would be helpful as he is taking the car on Wed. back to the shop which put in the engine and was only given a 60 day guarantee on the engine and that time is almost up and any info would help so they done take advantage of him.

 

[Buckalew11]

Gosh, I haven't seen you in forever, Bob! Are you still riding coasters? Well, good to see you again! Can't answer anything about Explorers though, sorry!

 

[Dan Murphy]

A check engine light is an indicator of a probelm in the emission system, generally the oxygen sensor. As for the gasket leak, you would either, or both, lose compression and/or have water leaking into the cylinders. The overflow for the water can be low or empty while the engine is running properly, it is used primarily for filling.

Good to see you, BNob.

 

[Bob O]

Yes Buckalew, im still around and riding coasters when ever i can.
Its nice to hear from you and im still around but dont post as often as i used or would want to.

 

[mickman1962]

If the anti-freeze is disappearing without a visble leak then you are most likely leaking it thru the head gasket into the cylinders. This will confuse the oxygen sensor and cause the check engine light to go on. It is usually pretty easy to spot when this type of leak occurs as you will see the Explorer blowing white smoke out of the tailpipe when you drive behind it. White smoke = antifreeze, black smoke = oil. There is also the possibility that the head gasket is leaking between a water and an oil jacket. In this case when you pull your dipstick you should either see antifreeze or notice that the level is noticebly above where it should be.

 

[mudnuri]

Do you have the antifreeze smell in the car? The sweet smell?

Sounds to me like they thought originally it was the head gasket, I'm not sure why they didnt just fix the orginal engine...??? did they say why? Head gaskets are an expensive fix, but if your pulling the engine to put a new one in, the $$ is about the same?

also sounds to me like this new used engine has a head gasket gone too!

Brandy

 

[Bob O]

Its my sons car so i dont know about any white smoke, my son hasnt mentioned anything about smoke, and the car seems to be running fine right now, though im sure that will change soon.
Im aware the check engine light is due to the emission contol system, i was wondering if the leaking anti-freeze is related to the check engine light being on and what the possibility is that they installed a engine that had a pre-existing leak and that they should fix the problem of give him another used engine, or could this be a problem that his car had and the new engine doesnt matter , if that makes any sense.
Im not a car mechanic so any help one can offer would be helpful before he takes the car to the shop tomorrow and we see what kind of response they have for us.