Problemos with my truck
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Austin
Problemos with my truck
Okay, my BII is pissing me off. First of all, a couple of weeks ago it almost overheated because it ran low on coolant. So we try to find the problem, and while we're trying to find it it decides it doesn't want to leak anything to let us know what's leaking. Anyway, my dad figured it to be the lower radiator hose because it was swelled up pretty bad, so he got a new one, refilled the system, and all was good for a bit. Checked it again later, no leaking or anything. Today I check it, coolant is low, again. What could possibly be the problem?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 161
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From: Pullman,WA
Problemos with my truck
dont know..but...mine is doing the same thing..no leaks anywhere, but i have to refil it once a week...i checked the oil and its as pretty as can be.. i park on a clean driveway and have never leaked anything:-staun so..i guess this is a xcommon problem?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,562
Likes: 4
From: South Jersey
Problemos with my truck
The 2.9L are know for cracking heads when overheated, they leak the coolant into the crankcase and kill the bearings, don't run it if you have something that looks like chacolate milk in the crankcase.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Austin
Problemos with my truck
It never got to the point of overheating, it just got hotter than normal. The oil's clean, the exhaust is clear as crystal (so no white smoke for a cracked head or black smoke for burning oil), so I don't think there's anything cracked. We still can't see it leaking anywhere. A dude at work used to have a Ranger with the same 2.9l V6 and he said he had to replace the water pump three times on it, and he had it for about 215k miles, I believe he said, before it was stolen. Mine's around 226k miles and I believe it still has the original water pump, so.....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
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From: Iowa
Problemos with my truck
I would suspect a cracked head. I knew a guy at work that had an '86 that cracked a head, and leaked antifreeze into the crankcase. About every week he had to add some. I asked him where it was going, and he didnt know. He said the oil level wasnt going up, and the oil still looked ok. A while later (a couple months) he was complaining of low oil pressure, where the light was coming on. His bearings were shot. But his oil level never went up. What was happening was that the antifreeze was all getting boiled out, leaving the residue behind in the oil eating the bearings. I know it looks ok, but I'd have 'em checked. World Products makes cylinder heads for it, if you want to go that route.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 44
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From: Paris,Ky
Problemos with my truck
Next oil change save a bit of old oil and have it analyzed for coolant. Most any Freightliner dealer or Kenworth dealer can do this for a small fee. Very cheap for the peice of mind it would save.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
Problemos with my truck
I'm talking about rod and main bearings. The guy in the story from my previous post sold the truck, and the buyer tore down the engine. This confirmed the rod and main bearings were shot. Excellent idea with the oil analysis.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2003
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Problemos with my truck
you can probly buy the pressure tester cheeper at an auto store than taking it to an auto shop,i have the same thing with mine,once in a great while,the temp goes up just a little above normal,add some coolant,its fine,theres "NO" antifreeze in the oil whatsoever,if you have even a little trace of antifreeze in your oil,it will burn white out the exhaust,& plus,if you had a cracked head to where the coolant was gettin into the oil,you would be getting oil in the coolant also,mine doesnt go low very often,i live in southern Ga,HOT,i think it just evaperates after a while,i dont know,but,i have no leaks & oil is beautifull in it,i maintain my vehicles annualy way before most folks do,the more ya do,the longer they last
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Austin
Problemos with my truck
Originally posted by FordCwazyGuy
you can probly buy the pressure tester cheeper at an auto store than taking it to an auto shop,i have the same thing with mine,once in a great while,the temp goes up just a little above normal,add some coolant,its fine,theres "NO" antifreeze in the oil whatsoever,if you have even a little trace of antifreeze in your oil,it will burn white out the exhaust,& plus,if you had a cracked head to where the coolant was gettin into the oil,you would be getting oil in the coolant also,mine doesnt go low very often,i live in southern Ga,HOT,i think it just evaperates after a while,i dont know,but,i have no leaks & oil is beautifull in it,i maintain my vehicles annualy way before most folks do,the more ya do,the longer they last
you can probly buy the pressure tester cheeper at an auto store than taking it to an auto shop,i have the same thing with mine,once in a great while,the temp goes up just a little above normal,add some coolant,its fine,theres "NO" antifreeze in the oil whatsoever,if you have even a little trace of antifreeze in your oil,it will burn white out the exhaust,& plus,if you had a cracked head to where the coolant was gettin into the oil,you would be getting oil in the coolant also,mine doesnt go low very often,i live in southern Ga,HOT,i think it just evaperates after a while,i dont know,but,i have no leaks & oil is beautifull in it,i maintain my vehicles annualy way before most folks do,the more ya do,the longer they last
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Austin
Problemos with my truck
Okay, new results....
The new pressure cap didn't help. At least I know I won't have to buy a new one for a while now that I got a good one, at least. I did look around my truck after leaving the truck off for about 3-4 hours. Before I had noticed water standing on the outside of the engine and water pump and around the area. I went and checked, and it's still the same, all wet around it. But the water keeps going above the water pump, so I don't believe there's a leak involving the water pump, rather a leak above it, such as the upper radiator hose (which I'm highly doubting) or maybe one of the two heater core hoses, or who knows.... just gotta keep monitoring it.
The new pressure cap didn't help. At least I know I won't have to buy a new one for a while now that I got a good one, at least. I did look around my truck after leaving the truck off for about 3-4 hours. Before I had noticed water standing on the outside of the engine and water pump and around the area. I went and checked, and it's still the same, all wet around it. But the water keeps going above the water pump, so I don't believe there's a leak involving the water pump, rather a leak above it, such as the upper radiator hose (which I'm highly doubting) or maybe one of the two heater core hoses, or who knows.... just gotta keep monitoring it.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 13
From: 13th Colony
Problemos with my truck
It is possible that it is leaking from the thermostat housing around the gasket. The best way I know is to put a pressure tester on the system. It will identify leaks that you only have when hot or running. I have found that just because it isn't dripping doesn't mean it isn't leaking. A leak on top of radiator, heater core or other high point will cause the water to evaporate out. Leaks low in the system will drip when cold. You can usually tell where a leak such as on top of the radiator is by discoloration around the leaking point.
See if you can borrow a pressure tester. All you have to do is install it on the pressure cap and pump. You will usually see the leak pretty quickly.
By the way, I recommend using distilled water in place of tap water with the coolant. It is like 50cent a gallon at any grocery store. It is pure without any scale, lime or the like which causes the radiator to corode. My coolant in my bronco ii has not been changed in like 3 years and you can not see any rust in the radiator.
BroncoBasher
See if you can borrow a pressure tester. All you have to do is install it on the pressure cap and pump. You will usually see the leak pretty quickly.
By the way, I recommend using distilled water in place of tap water with the coolant. It is like 50cent a gallon at any grocery store. It is pure without any scale, lime or the like which causes the radiator to corode. My coolant in my bronco ii has not been changed in like 3 years and you can not see any rust in the radiator.
BroncoBasher
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Austin
Problemos with my truck
Originally posted by broncobasher
It is possible that it is leaking from the thermostat housing around the gasket. The best way I know is to put a pressure tester on the system. It will identify leaks that you only have when hot or running. I have found that just because it isn't dripping doesn't mean it isn't leaking. A leak on top of radiator, heater core or other high point will cause the water to evaporate out. Leaks low in the system will drip when cold. You can usually tell where a leak such as on top of the radiator is by discoloration around the leaking point.
See if you can borrow a pressure tester. All you have to do is install it on the pressure cap and pump. You will usually see the leak pretty quickly.
By the way, I recommend using distilled water in place of tap water with the coolant. It is like 50cent a gallon at any grocery store. It is pure without any scale, lime or the like which causes the radiator to corode. My coolant in my bronco ii has not been changed in like 3 years and you can not see any rust in the radiator.
BroncoBasher
It is possible that it is leaking from the thermostat housing around the gasket. The best way I know is to put a pressure tester on the system. It will identify leaks that you only have when hot or running. I have found that just because it isn't dripping doesn't mean it isn't leaking. A leak on top of radiator, heater core or other high point will cause the water to evaporate out. Leaks low in the system will drip when cold. You can usually tell where a leak such as on top of the radiator is by discoloration around the leaking point.
See if you can borrow a pressure tester. All you have to do is install it on the pressure cap and pump. You will usually see the leak pretty quickly.
By the way, I recommend using distilled water in place of tap water with the coolant. It is like 50cent a gallon at any grocery store. It is pure without any scale, lime or the like which causes the radiator to corode. My coolant in my bronco ii has not been changed in like 3 years and you can not see any rust in the radiator.
BroncoBasher
Yeah, mah dad wants me to go get it pressure tested at some auto shop...
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