My truck (95 F150 6ycl 4.9L Auto) had been sitting for some time and I took it out for a 10 mile drive to get it some use. Shortly after starting I hear a large amount of fluid going through the heater core, then soon after the temp gage starts rising. Once the truck was to hot to drive, I pulled over and shut it down. I looked under the truck and a good amount of water was coming out at the transmission bell housing.

So is it likely that the heater core has dumped the fluid -OR- is this worse and the head gasket has blown -OR- where are the freeze plugs? Any guesses.......

Here are other items I noticed during and after this:
- While Hot lifters rattled heavily, but once cool and running no noise
- Checked the oil after the issues started and no obvious water in the oil
- Radiator drained afterwards, any attempt to refill would flush right out the back.

 

does it get cold enough where you are to worry about freeze plugs? no chance a heater hose is busted and running down around the bell housing? I could be wrong, but I believe you have a couple of plugs on the back of the motor though.

Good Luck

 

Thats what it sounds like. Freeze plug in rear of motor rusted out or just popped out.

 

It doesn't get to cold here in central Texas (at least not until today). So there is a freeze plug on the rear of the in-line 6? I thought they were only on the sides.

 

There should be two in the rear of the motor. Doesn't have to be cold to have one pop out.

 

Are these easily accessible? Any documentation anywhere on how to change these out, does the Chilton manuals have this (sorry don't have one yet)? Do you have to drop the tranny to get to it?

 

you have to drop the trans.

 

There might be a freeze plug on the back of the head. If you can determine the exact location of the leak it would save some time since you might not need to pull the tranny.

 

You have to move the tranny out of the way and remove the flexplate. Since it's pouring from the back like you describe, I doubt it's anything else except a busted hose, which I'm guessing you've already checked.

I've never heard of this happening to an I6 before.

 

Definitely not the front hoses (to and from the radiator) and just checked the hoses to and from the heater core and those are both fine. I thought the truck had emptied itself of radiator fluid, but just before typing this I went outside and removed the radiator cap and heard water dripping (running really) out from underneath (truck not started). Laid under the truck and it's definitely coming from the back of the motor and actually through the transmission bell housing, as the transmission inspection port is removed and water is actually draining through the bell housing and out the inspection hole.

I am leaning towards the freeze plug as I had to have one replaced back in 2002. The truck has 210,000 miles on it so I am thinking this is why I am seeing these problems, that or when they worked on it in 2002 it wasn't done well.

I am praying it's not anything worse.