Odd "oil" leak
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Trailering
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Odd "oil" leak
I have a 2008 4WD with the 6.4 Diesel. I noticed a leak puddle near the front of the truck a little to the left of center. I got under the truck with a flashlight to try and determine what the leak was and where it came from. There was a drop forming on the bottom of the lower radiator hose. Above that, you could see where the fluid had dripped down from a couple of other hose fittings further up on the front of the engine.
The fluid itself is clear with an oily feel to it, kind of like mineral oil. it also had no significant smell to it. I've looked at everything under the hood for something that could have a fluid like this, but I haven't found anything and (because of all the stuff in the engine compartment) I can't see the source of the leak.
Anybody have any idea what this might be?
The fluid itself is clear with an oily feel to it, kind of like mineral oil. it also had no significant smell to it. I've looked at everything under the hood for something that could have a fluid like this, but I haven't found anything and (because of all the stuff in the engine compartment) I can't see the source of the leak.
Anybody have any idea what this might be?
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Trailering
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Found the source
I put a glass jar under the leak and caught some of the fluid. It is coolant. Because it is the original "Motorcraft Premium Gold" coolant, it is light yellow. The leak appears to be coming from the hose connection point on the engine for the upper radiator hose.
This looks like it's gonna be a PITA to get to, but it's fixable. Thanks for the input!!
This looks like it's gonna be a PITA to get to, but it's fixable. Thanks for the input!!
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 930
Likes: 0
From: East Helena MT
The upper hose is very difficult to get at when the EGR cooler is there. I just did a delete of the EGR system and with the cooler out of the way that hose is easy to get too. It is the clip that holds the hose on that is hard to see and get too. The old design had one o-ring in the hose and the new setup has two o-rings in the hose to help keep it from leaking.
Good luck changing that hose out!
Jeff
Good luck changing that hose out!
Jeff
I put a glass jar under the leak and caught some of the fluid. It is coolant. Because it is the original "Motorcraft Premium Gold" coolant, it is light yellow. The leak appears to be coming from the hose connection point on the engine for the upper radiator hose.
This looks like it's gonna be a PITA to get to, but it's fixable. Thanks for the input!!
This looks like it's gonna be a PITA to get to, but it's fixable. Thanks for the input!!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
The top hose is not that hard to remove. It is not as easy as some of your previous vehicles but it isn't hard either.
(1) open radiator petcock and drain out coolant
(2) remove battery on the driver side
(3) unscrew bolts in battery tray and remove the degas bottle
(3) unsnap the wire clips on each end of the top hose .. I use shop tweezers to reach them but you could fab something from a coat hanger if you need a tool
(4) pull off the hose
Your top hose should have 2 o-rings on the inside of the end closest to engine. If not, you should buy the new updated hose. Otherwise, install new o-rings on each end and reinstall. Now is the time to inspect your thermostats if you so desire. There is a great youtube video on this. Essentially, you loosen the vertical EGR cooler, remove the hanger, then remove 4 screws holding down the thermostat cover. Just go watch the youtube video. -FB
(1) open radiator petcock and drain out coolant
(2) remove battery on the driver side
(3) unscrew bolts in battery tray and remove the degas bottle
(3) unsnap the wire clips on each end of the top hose .. I use shop tweezers to reach them but you could fab something from a coat hanger if you need a tool
(4) pull off the hose
Your top hose should have 2 o-rings on the inside of the end closest to engine. If not, you should buy the new updated hose. Otherwise, install new o-rings on each end and reinstall. Now is the time to inspect your thermostats if you so desire. There is a great youtube video on this. Essentially, you loosen the vertical EGR cooler, remove the hanger, then remove 4 screws holding down the thermostat cover. Just go watch the youtube video. -FB
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