4.9l f150 overheating
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New User
Joined: Aug 2019
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4.9l f150 overheating
Been having issues with a 95 f150 with the 4.9l overheating. After driving about 60 miles I heard the coolant boiling. It was boiling out of the overflow tank. It was rust brown in color. I flushed the system, replaced the cap, thermostat (it’s correct position), and replaced the water pump. Still overheated after about 10 miles. I decided to go ahead and replace the head gasket even though I didn’t have any blown head gasket symptoms . I don’t have any hoses leaking or collapsing. Fan clutch seems to be working correctly. After all of this I still have coolant boiling over after 15 to 20 miles drives. Any ideas?
More Turbo
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Hey Daniel, I would take an air hose gun and reverse blow the radiator out to see what comes out. It could be clogged. Have to blow my tractors out all the time that way. Check your brakes and wheels for drag. Have had vehicles mechanically drag the entire truck to even overheat the system. Otherwise, your radiator may be suspect. They can be flushed at a radiator shop or replaced if so, depending on your circumstances. Luck with it, you'll find it!
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 633
From: Houston/Sugar Land
Been having issues with a 95 f150 with the 4.9l overheating. After driving about 60 miles I heard the coolant boiling. It was boiling out of the overflow tank. It was rust brown in color. I flushed the system, replaced the cap, thermostat (it’s correct position), and replaced the water pump. Still overheated after about 10 miles. I decided to go ahead and replace the head gasket even though I didn’t have any blown head gasket symptoms . I don’t have any hoses leaking or collapsing. Fan clutch seems to be working correctly. After all of this I still have coolant boiling over after 15 to 20 miles drives. Any ideas?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 735
Likes: 8
From: NC
"My mechanic said you probably need a new radiator. You can get a harbor freight infrared digital thermometer and test it from top to bottom.. Sandy"
Fixed it for you buddy. @sandymane
Fixed it for you buddy. @sandymane
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 633
From: Houston/Sugar Land
"My mechanic said you probably need a new radiator. You can get a harbor freight infrared digital thermometer and test it from top to bottom.. Sandy"
Fixed it for you buddy. @sandymane
Fixed it for you buddy. @sandymane
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2018
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Could be a few other things also... clutch fans go bad where basically you can stop the fan with a rolled up magazine even when the engine is hot and fan should be nearly solid.
Thermostat can stick closed and system will get hot pretty quickly. Youll be able to feel the thermostat open at 192 degrees by holding on to top radiator hose.
Thermostat can stick closed and system will get hot pretty quickly. Youll be able to feel the thermostat open at 192 degrees by holding on to top radiator hose.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 735
Likes: 8
From: NC
are you sure you got all the air out of the system? I would first suspect the radiator if the air was out of the system. I bought a funnel that connects to the radiator where the cap goes that made a heck of a difference when trying to purge air from the system. Absent that, get the nose up in the air on ramps or jack stands and see if it is air trapped.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2019
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Had a similar problem when i first got my 90 f150, turned out to be gunk clogging up the radiator. Next time it gets warm shut it down and feel the radiator on the fan side, if it's hot top and bottom but cool in the middle you should have a better idea.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 128
Likes: 18
Also I would test for combustion gases in the coolant before swapping the head gasket. I think the consensus is that's not a common failure on the 4.9. You should be able to rent a tester from any auto parts store, think they sell them online too, don't forget the blue test fluid.