Hey guys,

Going to try posting this in both the 6.0 and Excursion forums.

I'm so stupid. I was flushing the truck last night, and I didn't finish before it got dark. Well I didn't refill the truck with coolant/antifreeze as there was still more flushing to do, however I did drain the water out. As I drifted off to sleep I thought... it shouldn't get cold enough to freeze, we are in April already.

Well, my worst fears were realized. Go to finish today and start to finish flushing with demineralized water. Fill up the degas bottle and I'm greeted with the sound of water... even though all the plugs and rad are closed.

Joy.

Unless I've forgotten to reattach a line somewhere (possible, but I think I checked everywhere) I've gone a broken something.

The sound is coming from behind the AC. It is a glug-glug-glug sound as the water drains.



It is draining out down the side the passenger side wheelwell and landing near the steps.



And I was so excited to have it all done... What a downer.

Any help you guys could throw my way would be way appreciated.

I am a noob mechanic and am in way over my head, as pathetic as that may sound.

Edit - I can take a video if that would help with diagnosing.

Thanks,

Nate

 

what was your low temperature last night? Just a frost won't actually freeze the water inside the block and after heard anything, but a hard freeze could. Keyword could do damage. Did you loosen the drain plug on the passenger side of the block while draining?

 

Have you checked soft heater hoses, and connections?

All you can really do is attach a slow running water hose, and let it drain until you find the leak.

Looks like the low was around 18° to 20°f. Without AF, that's sketchy.

 

The low was -9, so 15 F.

Man what was I thinking... I'm rolling around the in snow and neglect to refill with antifreeze.

I did not remove the starter to do the passenger side block drain... wasn't going that in depth. The way it is rolling down the side and the glug glug glug make me think it is a little higher up.

William, what is the best way to get a look under the AC where it appears to be coming from?

 

Should I try to haul it into the garage with the tractor to avoid further freezing damage? Supposed to go down to just at freezing tonight looking at the forecast.

 

If it can hold water long enough to idle it in, I would. I've run almost dry motors to move vehicles very short distances.

There isn't as much that can be easily removed on the PS of the motor for access/inspection. You'll need a strong flashlight to search from the top, and bottom. If you still can't see the leak, pulling the wheel liner is the next thing to do. Water seems to run in some crazy directions along the bottoms of vehicles.

Hopefully something was forgotten, or popped apart, and can be easily replaced.

 

Where it is rolling down, however not where the leak is. I can't see the leak directly from top or bottom.

 

Okay I'll stick the hose in it and keep the water flowing to idle it in. Thanks for the help Will appreciate it.

 

Do you have a heater core shut off valve? If so, can you manually actuate the valve to see if the leak slows or stops? It's located right next to the engine oil filler tube.




At the top of the PS firewall, is a plastic tee, where the front/rear heater core lines are separated, after the shut off valve.




The rear heater core/AC lines route between the wheel liner, and firewall. Check those those connections very carefully. Water may be running on the bottom of the lines where you can't see it.

Sent from my XT1060 using IB AutoGroup

 

Did you pop the heater core and the coolant is running out of the condensate drain hole in the fire wall?

 

William, I close that valve and the flow stops... I hope that is good news! That would mean the engine hasn't cracked on me?? I really don't know what to expect here. Thanks for thinking of that! I looked at the T and there is no water there.

David, where would I find that around?

Thanks,

Nate

 

My thought also......

 

Also, I managed to get it in the garage and I turned the heat on. No more freezing.

 

Here is a video of where I stand now

 

You can slow down the hose in the degas bottle.

That's a lot of water leaking with valve open. I'd still get the wheel liner/well out, and inspect those connections/lines. The liner is simple compared to the core. I don't think the core overflow could handle as much as you're dumping.

Those lines on the firewall go from soft to hard in the firewall area, IIRC.

Make sure the passenger front foot well isn't wet in the cab. You can open the glove box all the way out, and reach up around the heater box to feel for moisture.