About mid-October I noticed when it as real cold out and I had the heat running whenever I would come to a stop I noticed there is very little to no heat coming from the vents, despite the engine being warm and running at operating temps. At the time I was working for a shop and I asked one of the mechanics what the problem was. He said that it was the radiator not having enough coolant. Turns out when we pulled the cap the coolant res, was just about bone dry. So we added in about a gallon or so of coolant with the truck running and sure enough at idle the heat was back.

Fast forward to the last couple of weeks and when I am sitting at idle again same thing happens. So somehow the engine is losing coolant. Its not ending up in the oil (no white on the dipstick) and there is not a coolant leak. Anyone experience this at all with the first gen modular engines? As it sits there is 255,300 miles on the truck now.

 

Look to see it is not leaking on the top of motor under the alternator. If you see coolant on top, then you have an intake manifold external leak........ If you see NOTHING then you have a had gasket failed or head cracked. When running, the coolant slowly leaks into one combustion chamber and burns away. If its small enough you will not be able to see this.......... If it gets somewhat larger, you may see exhaust gas buildup in the overflow tank and burp... You may also notice the truck starts up and runs rough in the morning for 30 seconds.. That would be an ounce of coolant in once combustion chamber that leaked in overnight and has to burn off at startup.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...d-on-5-4l.html

 

I would be very temped to try a head/ gasket sealer. I have used BARS 1109 (?) COPPER sealer in the past with good success. I removed the top radiator hose at radiator end and pour the bottle into the hose, then reinstall. Top off coolant. Just drive normally for a week and then check coolant level again. Don't use the aluminum flakes, black gook *****, etc... try the copper.

 

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Bar's Leaks 1109 Block Seal Liquid Copper Intake and Radiator Stop Leak - 18 oz.


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• Seals larger leaks seals
• Repairs heater core leaks
• Repairs freeze plug leaks
• Repairs blown head gaskets

 

Well today I had to swap vehicles with my dad so I drove the truck to his work. I forgot to mention that there has been a bad bearing sound for the last few weeks I want to say. But when my dad had the truck at his work, at the end of his shift he said he saw a small puddle of coolant so he is thinking water pump or water pump gasket. So tomorrow I'll be getting under the truck and try to see if the water pump is loose and take the belt off to see where there bearing sound is coming from.

So won't know for sure.

However if it is a head problem the only way that I can think of what possibly caused it was about 4 years ago when we had a bad snow storm, snow had built up in front of the engine and the belt fell off, I had limped the truck without cooling, power steering...about 4 miles back home. Had stopped every few hundred feet and stopped for about 20 minutes to let the engine cool back down. However I did call Triple A but they had to call back all tow trucks because the roads were so bad.

I'll report back when I have an answer. Happy New Years!

 

Going to try to work on the truck today. Yesterday wasn't able to work on it since we had another vehicle needing to be worked on (hate Astro vans)

 

So the bearing noise was the alternator bearing going out. Still charges just fine so we are not worried about that. However when I went underneath the truck, I saw a good portion or coolant dripping off parts of the frame and the A/C lines (no compressor on the truck, just a bypass pulley). At this point its looking to be a head problem. That Bars Seal going to pick some up soon but they have several different ones..ones for a radiator and one for the head gasket. Should I get the one for the head or the radiator? If its not from the head but the water pump gasket stop leak work?

 

I only use the 1109 COPPER ......... it mixes with antifreeze and works on EVERYTHING that leaks

 

The stuff will seal a constant drip or small spray from a crack in gasket. If you have a blowout and are loosing a gallon an hour, its too late.

 

Its not that severe as far as I know. I'm losing about half a reservoir about every 3-5 weeks so maybe a gallon every month or so. I'll give it a shot and see what happens. Hopefully it'll stop and by the summer I'll have a different truck (thinking a Ranger).