Today as I was heading out to the store in my 1991 F150, I noticed the smell of an overheating engine (4.9 i6). My gauge was just starting to climb when I pulled in to parking lot. When I got out to look under hood I saw a trickle of coolant on the ground running between my feet. "Hose" was my first thought, but when I looked under truck I saw coolant leaking out from what appeared to be the bell housing and engine block. I let engine cool added fluid (it was very low or dry) added some stop leak to get me home and drove home. When I got home engine was again starting to get hot again (higher temp than usual, but still within "normal" range). I topped off fluid and let run for a bit, it cooled down and leaking stopped. I know the stop leak is a temporary measure at best, but am at a loss as to where this coolant coming from. It was coming out in a very steady (and alarming) rate while I was parked, so I am fairly sure that leak was at back of motor. Any ideas what or where this leak is?

 

It's probably just running down and coming out back there. It's leaking from somewhere else and running down the back.

 

I have searched several times for somewhere the leak could be coming from, but it really seems as if it is from rear of engine.....

 

Possibly a freeze plug in the rear is leaking . Not sure on yours , but many engines have one in the rear that is not visible with the trans. installed .

 

Frost plug rusted out on the head or block is my guess.

 

Not sure about the 4.9 but my 7.3 idi had to have the trans pulled twice because of the freeze plug leaking.