cooling system issues
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cooling system issues
Please help me - I am having an issue that I can not figure out. My truck is overheating sometimes when driving. The coolant overflows and I go from having heat to ice cold air coming out of the vents. The temp gauge will spike to hot as well. But sometimes it is good and does not have any issues and gives me good heat. I have replaced the thermostat and the waterpump so far the system has been burped several times sometimes running it for 2 hours with the cap off to make sure... Am I looking at a head gasket issue or something else? My oil is clean and I do not get any smoking out of the exhaust.
I don't know what else to do - I am trying to sell the truck as I do not need it anymore but I will not sell it broken and just pass the buck on. I want it in good working condition so someone else can enjoy it as I have.
Thanks
I don't know what else to do - I am trying to sell the truck as I do not need it anymore but I will not sell it broken and just pass the buck on. I want it in good working condition so someone else can enjoy it as I have.
Thanks
New User
Joined: Nov 2010
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Hey
I just experienced the same issue turned out to be the heads had slight warpness to them headgaskets was good might need to get them shaved man.Basically what urs is doing is once in a while or so the needle will pin to hot then go back to cold blow out cold air then after awhile it will blow heat out the vents and its good for awhile huh?
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Well after driving it home from the shop that replaced the waterpump for me it overheated within 10 minutes. Once it cooled down I drove it the rest of the way home and had good heat the whole way and the temp gauge stayed in the middle...
they did a test to check for exhaust gasses in the coolant and found none - so they did not think that it was a head gasket issue.
they did a test to check for exhaust gasses in the coolant and found none - so they did not think that it was a head gasket issue.
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well let me know in a few days we had no signs of anything to prove it was a head until hundreds later after replacing heater core,water pump,egr,thermostat 2 times just to make sure,new radiator,sensors lol bruping even had it to ford dealer they didnt find the problem right away seemed like we would replace one thing it would stop the weird over heating thing for a few days then it would start acting up again so just a heads up man hopefully you wont have the problem we have had.
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wasn't driving fast and it was about -15 celcius. I think it was just an air bubble though. After that I made it home without an issue and it has been fine ever since. Maybe the shop did not burp it enough... I took the truck out and beat the hell out of it on the highway (legally - just kept it in 2nd and went for a long high rpm cruise) and it did not overheat or spill any fluids... so maybe it is ok now I`m not sure.
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Hi - I'm having the exact same problem with my '97 Ford F150 with the 4.6L V-8. Seems to drive fine for awhile, then the temp gauge slowly drops to cold, the heat from the HVAC system is completely lost, and then the temp gauge instantly pegs to Hot and the oil light comes on...
My mechanic filled the antifreeze system up under pressure today. On the way homw, the truck expereinced the same problem and burped antifreeze out the top of the expansion tank. I shut the truck off, waited five minutes, and started it up and drove it around for twenty minutes with no issues at all. So what is the problem? I'm baffled too...
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan M.
My mechanic filled the antifreeze system up under pressure today. On the way homw, the truck expereinced the same problem and burped antifreeze out the top of the expansion tank. I shut the truck off, waited five minutes, and started it up and drove it around for twenty minutes with no issues at all. So what is the problem? I'm baffled too...
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan M.
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Same problem "I think" here. 1998 f-150 with the small V8. While driving and the engine is warming, the needle comes up to normal then bobs a little then will peg. If I shut the motor off and turn it back on the needle will usually be at the normal range again. Sometimes it will just "Fall" back to normal on its own.
I have noticed some steam in the exhaust after starting the truck on some mornings.
When I get to where I'm going I will open the hood and find that coolant has spurted from expansion tank and cap will still be hissing even after needle has dropped back to normal position.
Replaced thermostat and coolant and problem continues. Hate the sloshing sounds I hear behind the dash. wtf Ford.
Sounds like Turky's warped head might be the answer. Makes sense. Problem is just while metal is expanding from warming up. Any ideas. Would checking the torque on head bolts be in order?
I have noticed some steam in the exhaust after starting the truck on some mornings.
When I get to where I'm going I will open the hood and find that coolant has spurted from expansion tank and cap will still be hissing even after needle has dropped back to normal position.
Replaced thermostat and coolant and problem continues. Hate the sloshing sounds I hear behind the dash. wtf Ford.
Sounds like Turky's warped head might be the answer. Makes sense. Problem is just while metal is expanding from warming up. Any ideas. Would checking the torque on head bolts be in order?
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OK so if my head gasket is leaking or block cracked and letting combustion gas into cooling system, what should I do. the truck has 123K miles. Sounds like that is past the life expectancy for this motor. What will it cost to replace it? 1998 bare bones f-150 longbed extended cab work truck. Can I put the 5.4 liter motor in it? Is the transmission the same? Will there be issues with programming etc that will cause me a bunch of problems? Where can I get a 4.6 or 5.4 for a decent price.
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Hi -
I talked to the service manager at my local Ford dealership and described the problem to him. He said it sounded like a warped head issue and could test/diagnose the problem for about $110.00. My backyard mechanic said to try Bar's Leaks Block Seal - Head Gasket Fix additive. The stuff is a bit pricey at $30.00, but I gave it a try. So far so good. I will be driving it around for the next few days and see how it does. The real test will be next week when the temps are forecast to drop near zero.
Good Luck!
Dan M.
I talked to the service manager at my local Ford dealership and described the problem to him. He said it sounded like a warped head issue and could test/diagnose the problem for about $110.00. My backyard mechanic said to try Bar's Leaks Block Seal - Head Gasket Fix additive. The stuff is a bit pricey at $30.00, but I gave it a try. So far so good. I will be driving it around for the next few days and see how it does. The real test will be next week when the temps are forecast to drop near zero.
Good Luck!
Dan M.
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Hi -
My backyard mechanic said to try Bar's Leaks Block Seal - Head Gasket Fix additive. The stuff is a bit pricey at $30.00, but I gave it a try. So far so good. I will be driving it around for the next few days and see how it does. The real test will be next week when the temps are forecast to drop near zero.
My backyard mechanic said to try Bar's Leaks Block Seal - Head Gasket Fix additive. The stuff is a bit pricey at $30.00, but I gave it a try. So far so good. I will be driving it around for the next few days and see how it does. The real test will be next week when the temps are forecast to drop near zero.
Is it still working? My truck does this like clockwork while it is heating up. Then it works fine. I'm pretty sure it is a warped head and the differences in temperatures while its warming up is causing the leak. I want to try taking the thermostat out to see if that reduces the heat differences between block and head. I'm pretty sure exhaust is introduced into the coolant right around the time the thermostat is opening up. If that doesn't work I think I will try the Bar's leak.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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read the 8th post on this link... then click on the photos below that . I replaced manifold gaksets for external leak... then used bars leak eventually when i decided i had a head gasket or pin hole leak
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...lant-blow.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...lant-blow.html
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Moosiah -
I am happy to say that the Bar's Leaks seems to be working. I have driven over 200 miles now without incident other than the trickling water sound in the heater core which seems to be diminishing. I followed the instructions exactly as written including filling through the top raditor hose. After running the engine for twenty minutes, I let it cool for a day. So far so good. If I could get another 15,000 miles out of my truck, I would be absolutely thrilled! I say give the Bar's Leaks a try...
Good Luck!
Dan M.
I am happy to say that the Bar's Leaks seems to be working. I have driven over 200 miles now without incident other than the trickling water sound in the heater core which seems to be diminishing. I followed the instructions exactly as written including filling through the top raditor hose. After running the engine for twenty minutes, I let it cool for a day. So far so good. If I could get another 15,000 miles out of my truck, I would be absolutely thrilled! I say give the Bar's Leaks a try...
Good Luck!
Dan M.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Thank you for the response! I'm with you on the 15,000 more miles. Looks like I will be giving it a try. It can't be worse than burping the exhaust pocket by putting my truck in neutral at 65 turning the motor off and restarting it.