Notices
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis Econolines. E150, E250, E350, E450 and E550

Over heating??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 1, 2016 | 05:05 PM
  #1  
Constantlyconfused's Avatar
Constantlyconfused
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Over heating??

My ford van I use primarily for work has been having a over heating issue for a while now. I usually give it 10 or 15 minutes to warm up in the morning before leaving for work. By the time I leave it is blowing hot air and the thermostat on the dash board is reading just above cold. After driving for five minutes the heater turns cold and the temperature gauge starts to rise until it is all the way in the red and the van is overheating. I pull over and turn the van off and turn it back on and suddenly the hot air and back and the temperature gauge drops to its regular place. Sometimes it takes turning it on and off again a few times for it to correct its self, other times only once. The problem has been going on for a while and I'm not sure what to do, any suggestions?
 
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2016 | 05:42 PM
  #2  
Tom's Avatar
Tom
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
Sounds like a bubble in your cooling system. How's your coolant level?
 
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2016 | 07:31 PM
  #3  
Constantlyconfused's Avatar
Constantlyconfused
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Yes, it stays full. How do I get rid of a bubble?
 
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2016 | 07:37 PM
  #4  
Tom's Avatar
Tom
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
Have you changed your coolant recently? If not, and there are no leaks, that's not it.

Open the radiator cap when the engine is cold, is the coolant all the way to the top?
 
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2016 | 09:39 PM
  #5  
Constantlyconfused's Avatar
Constantlyconfused
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
There was a bad leak and I put the radiator stop leak stuff in after going through three quarts of antifreeze in three days because it was leaking so bad. It started doing this two days after I put in the stop leak and topped off the antifreeze level. Also there is no way to look in the radiator it only has a reservoir that you put the antifreeze in.
 
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2016 | 09:54 PM
  #6  
Tom's Avatar
Tom
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
Uh oh...

Stop leak is bad news. It can cause blockages in the system and cause all manor of havoc. Best case scenario is there's still air in the system from the leak, but I suspect the stop leak is causing a blockage somewhere.

Pull the upper radiator hose with a drain pan underneath. If there's air in the system nothing will come up. You can add coolant with a funnel until the radiator is full, then reinstall the hose. If coolant comes out and there's no air the system needs to be flushed.
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2016 | 06:49 PM
  #7  
richter roxs's Avatar
richter roxs
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
From: boston
stop leak= stop heat ,
it also leads to plugged radiators , find the leak and fix it ,flush the whole system and see what you get. You probably need a new radiator, once they get a little plugged from age the stop leak finishes them off !
good luck the only solution to an automotive problem that comes out of a can is called beer
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
thomasiovino
Excursion - King of SUVs
9
Nov 12, 2014 04:21 PM
MattP51
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
22
Apr 9, 2009 07:49 AM
felixr
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Feb 14, 2006 10:49 AM
wresleu
1997 - 2003 F150
12
Dec 7, 2005 07:02 PM
fatbob
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
3
Jan 26, 2005 10:08 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 PM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE