Funky Smell
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From: Florida
Funky Smell
Well, after finding out I've probably been running quite a while with little or no coolant in my truck (the temperature guage started rising today and the heat was barely working), when I added the coolant for the short time I had to drive it, it definately seems to be running cool again. I'm unsure about the heat, it did seem a lot hotter than this morning but not as hot as it used to be..... the two problems are related right? (coolant/heat) My question is I've been smelling a funny smell sometimes when I turn on the heat, almost like burnt clutch or burnt wires, it seems to go away but I was wondering what this could be. Since it's been raining/snowing the past couple of weeks and either coincidentally or uncoincidentally it seems to do it when it's doing one or the other I chalked it up to something like brakes/other hot piece of metallic getting wet. Can anyone help me here, or tell me why my coolant would seemingly suddenly (or not so suddenly, but my temperature rise so suddenly) without any appearant leaks? How often should I have to fill the radiator?
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From: Port Perry Ont Canada
Funky Smell
Have any of your friends been helping you work on your truck lately! "Cause my buddy Alistair drives a Chebby and I had a good laugh when I put an open can of sardines on his intake manifold!!!!!!!
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From: Florida
Funky Smell
well, come to think of it i have added coolant for probably 9-10 months......would this be adequate time to require another full bottle of anti freeze and 64oz of water? lol? I'm sure my girlfriend would have complained by now if there was water on her side of the truck......but i'll keep any eye on it, how much of a PITA is it to replace on a 93' f-150?
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Memphis, TN
Funky Smell
It's one of the easiest things you can do - just pull the glove box and then the ~6 screws holding the heater core cover on the ventilation box. After unhooking the hoses from the engine compartment side, the heater core comes right out. Make sure the foam gasket and the sealant between the 2 pipes is back in place when you reinstall the replacement.
The coolant should NEVER need to be refilled or even topped up. If the system is in good shape, it should hold the coolant longer than you should go between changes (like 3 years).
The coolant should NEVER need to be refilled or even topped up. If the system is in good shape, it should hold the coolant longer than you should go between changes (like 3 years).
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From: Florida
Funky Smell
hmm, it's just weird cus my uncle has seen all of my leaks thus far (oil, power steering, etc.) and he hasn't mentioned any coolan on the driveway...... so i have no idea where it's going?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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Funky Smell
you have to check UNDER the mat,so its doubtful your G-friend would notice .Also,it could be a small leak that burns off while the motor is hot,so you wouldnt have any places on your driveway.
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From: Vancouver WA
Funky Smell
Look for leaks around the end caps/tanks on the radiator. The plastic to metal seam is prone to leaking. I just found a leak on my '95. I was under the truck trying to track down a noise and noticed a drop of antifreeze below the radiator on the support. Who's bright idea was putting plastic tanks on radiators anyway?
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: New Hampshire
Funky Smell
Check for a coolant leak around the thermostat housing as well. My 94 had a leak that I could not find but only smell for a long time. It was only when I had her running one day and had the hood open that I noticed it. The gasket around the water neck was blown. Just a thought.
Bill
Bill
Funky Smell
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Funky Smell
Steve, I don't agree that you should never have to add coolant.... On some of the older ford trucks (my 87 did) I didn't have an overflow bottle so when the coolant expanded it just went on the ground... through the overflow tube......... My van has the bottle, buti f you fill it to the cold line when it's cold the coolant dissapears, yet the rad is full.
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From: Florida
Funky Smell
Well, there was a rather large puddle this morning, and again no heat. My uncle thinks it's a water pump so I'll take it in to the mechanic today to find out......I'm not touching that when there's a new fresh 9 inches of snow on the ground 
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Funky Smell
yo Mr Wizard;
This is from my Bronco post earlier this month:
"...Our 96 bronco's rad leaked at the plastic side seams too @ 60k miles despite freq. maint.
I went to Ford through the dealership (armed with many rad. side seam posts in various Ford truck MB's like FTE). No replies exc. for thank you for inquiring; however, I did eventually receive a Ford corp. reply that advised me to contact the Ford OEM rad supplier(Visteon).
No reply from that company to date (1 year). So I fired off another e mail 4 MAR 2003.
Here is their rad info:
http://www.evisteon.com/b2b/cc_pdf/14920.PDF
note this:
"...End Tanks - Manufactured with the same
composites as OE specifications, which results in fewer
end tank failures and fewer header-to-end-tank leaks. A
more robust tank design ensures less cracking and warpage..."
note the word "less".
(This is the replacement radiaitor design for the 96)
As EPNCSU2006 wrote, some fellow Ford truck pals have crimped or used PVC glue to seal their seams.
I opted for a new rad. since the bronco was a daily driver at that time period and I couldn't get off a day, let alone a weekend at the time.
This is from my Bronco post earlier this month:
"...Our 96 bronco's rad leaked at the plastic side seams too @ 60k miles despite freq. maint.
I went to Ford through the dealership (armed with many rad. side seam posts in various Ford truck MB's like FTE). No replies exc. for thank you for inquiring; however, I did eventually receive a Ford corp. reply that advised me to contact the Ford OEM rad supplier(Visteon).
No reply from that company to date (1 year). So I fired off another e mail 4 MAR 2003.
Here is their rad info:
http://www.evisteon.com/b2b/cc_pdf/14920.PDF
note this:
"...End Tanks - Manufactured with the same
composites as OE specifications, which results in fewer
end tank failures and fewer header-to-end-tank leaks. A
more robust tank design ensures less cracking and warpage..."
note the word "less".
(This is the replacement radiaitor design for the 96)
As EPNCSU2006 wrote, some fellow Ford truck pals have crimped or used PVC glue to seal their seams.
I opted for a new rad. since the bronco was a daily driver at that time period and I couldn't get off a day, let alone a weekend at the time.
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Funky Smell
yo Mr Wizard;
This is from my Bronco post earlier this month:
"...Our 96 bronco's rad leaked at the plastic side seams too @ 60k miles despite freq. maint.
I went to Ford through the dealership (armed with many rad. side seam posts in various Ford truck MB's like FTE). No replies exc. for thank you for inquiring; however, I did eventually receive a Ford corp. reply that advised me to contact the Ford OEM rad supplier(Visteon).
No reply from that company to date (1 year). So I fired off another e mail 4 MAR 2003.
Here is their rad info:
http://www.evisteon.com/b2b/cc_pdf/14920.PDF
note this:
"...End Tanks - Manufactured with the same
composites as OE specifications, which results in fewer
end tank failures and fewer header-to-end-tank leaks. A
more robust tank design ensures less cracking and warpage..."
note the word "less".
(This is the replacement radiaitor design for the 96)
As EPNCSU2006 wrote, some fellow Ford truck pals have crimped or used PVC glue to seal their seams.
I opted for a new rad. since the bronco was a daily driver at that time period and I couldn't get off a day, let alone a weekend at the time.
This is from my Bronco post earlier this month:
"...Our 96 bronco's rad leaked at the plastic side seams too @ 60k miles despite freq. maint.
I went to Ford through the dealership (armed with many rad. side seam posts in various Ford truck MB's like FTE). No replies exc. for thank you for inquiring; however, I did eventually receive a Ford corp. reply that advised me to contact the Ford OEM rad supplier(Visteon).
No reply from that company to date (1 year). So I fired off another e mail 4 MAR 2003.
Here is their rad info:
http://www.evisteon.com/b2b/cc_pdf/14920.PDF
note this:
"...End Tanks - Manufactured with the same
composites as OE specifications, which results in fewer
end tank failures and fewer header-to-end-tank leaks. A
more robust tank design ensures less cracking and warpage..."
note the word "less".
(This is the replacement radiaitor design for the 96)
As EPNCSU2006 wrote, some fellow Ford truck pals have crimped or used PVC glue to seal their seams.
I opted for a new rad. since the bronco was a daily driver at that time period and I couldn't get off a day, let alone a weekend at the time.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
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From: Memphis, TN
Funky Smell
Originally posted by pfogle
I don't agree that you should never have to add coolant.... On some of the older ford trucks (my 87 did) I didn't have an overflow bottle so when the coolant expanded it just went on the ground...
I don't agree that you should never have to add coolant.... On some of the older ford trucks (my 87 did) I didn't have an overflow bottle so when the coolant expanded it just went on the ground...
All '80-up (and probably older) trucks DO have an overflow tank, so all the ones that this forum deals with should NOT need coolant added.