Everytime I try to find the answer to my questions I can't find what I'm looking for. I'm a very impatient man, so when I make an enquiry, BAM, I want the answer right there lol.

So I'll start a new thread: heating issue, here is what I got. '98 f150 4x4 automatic. Upper rad hose is collasped, the overflow tank is full, but I have hardly any heat, the system does not build up pressure and at times I smell anitfreeze also the temp gage only goes up to about 1/4. Also hot or cold the level of the fluid in the overflow tank reamins the same. I hope I'm not looking at a head gasket issue.

 

Have you tried a new thermostat? Drain out a gallon of coolant, tuck a rag around the block under the TS housing so no coolant runs down a plug hole. 8MM socket takes the bolt off the top of the TS housing ( holds PS bracket) 10 MM socket pulls the 2 bolts off the housing. Wiggle it up enough and then pop the thermostat out. Replace it and the O-ring. It is easier if you pull the intake ductwork between the throttle body and the air filter.....gives you a little more room to work.

Where does the coolant smell come from? Under the hood or further back?

Usually a head gasket will do things like blow the coolant out the plastic tank after warm...weird stuff like that...gauge will spike around...you said your gauge stays the same ( only lower) and the coolant level stays constant?

 

I first smelt antifreeze when sitting in the cab addressing my 4x4 issue. First thing I did was go back and smell the exaust, no antifreeze there. The gauge does not fluxuate , it goes to about a 1/4 and stays there. I bought the truck a couple of days ago about a 45 minute drive home, there was no signs of "overheating" or anything like that. Gauge went up to 1/4 and stayed there but hardly any heat, blower motor has high only (another minor issue lol). I can't say for sure but I don't think the fluid level changes in the overflow tank and like I said there is no pressure buildup in the rad hose, it's actually collasped.

 

Hmmmmm. Sounds like a vacuum problem...maybe? For sure go get a new radiator cap and try that. They are cheap and that may solve it.

Coolant small in the cab? Do the windows have a film on the inside? Maybe heater core.

 

There's no "rad" cap just the cap on the overflow tank. The first night I bought it home after sitting awhile it steamed up inside I guess. I didn't see myself, my daughter's boyfriend mentioned it.

 

My mistake....I mean the overflow tank cap. That acts just like a radiator cap.....that is pressurized and needs to work accordingly.....just like a radiator cap.

 

I did noticed the first time I took the cap off the overflow the other day there was a little pressure there, not much but a little.

 

Kinda figured you meant cap on overflow, just makeing sure we're both on the same page.

 

That is a good sign. If you had a head gasket issue blowing combustion gases back into the cooling system the top radiator hose would be solid as a rock and if you took the cap off it would about launch a space shuttle.

If it was me.....#1 try a new cap...then if no good...#2 new thermostat. You need to get your cooling system running right then see if the heat comes back. Steam on the windows and the smell of coolant in the cab are classic "bad heater core". It requires that you remove the dash to get at it.

My 98 started doing that last fall.....because of its mileage and other issues I used some of the Bars Stop Leak and that solved it right away....still no issues. I don't suggest ever using that stuff, but in my case I was retiring the truck soon due to other issues, and actually it worked very well...(knock on wood...LOL)

 

Always like trying the "inexpensive' solutions first. Going to replace the "rad" cap first and replace the upper rad hose as well. Got the rad hose off may as well replace the termostat too

 

Well I haven't been able too get this looked after yet, weather pretty ****ty here and I have no place to work at it. My daughters boyfriend has a junked subaru in my garage . Any way I get the impression that you feel that this isn't a head gasket issue. Just trying to mentally prepare myself for worst case situation.

 

I agree on the recovery tank coolant cap.

There are 2 valves in the cap; one allows expanded coolant under approx. 16psi pressure into recovery bottle and the other allows recovery bottle coolant back into the radiator under vacuum as the engine coolant cools.

Yours may have the vacuum style valve stuck not allowing return coolant to engine so it's like having no coolant in the engine which collapses the hose and gives you no heat. You can also overheat the engine this way. Also check the recovery to radiator hose for possible collapse.

 

You mean the small thin hose on top or the large bottom hose with the "T" in it on the bottom ?

 

I went to the dealership to pick up a coolant cap. Guy there told mre that wasn't my problem. So I wound up buying a thermastat and o-ring ($ 45+). I now have more heat than I had before, not as much as I think should be there. There is some pressure build up in the upper rad hose but does not get "solid' the way it should. The upper rad hose and bothhoses for the heater core get hot. Also the bottom rad hose is not warm at all, almost like there is no circulation. I squeezed both upper and lower rad hoses and can see the coolant in the tank moving, so I don't feel it's plugged. Are we still thinking coolant cap or maybe bad water pump ?

 

So I replaced the thermostat and the pressure cap on the coolant tank still same results. No pressure build up and the bottom rad hose is still cold, and hardly any heat.