Loosing Coolant
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
Loosing Coolant
Hi All,
I am loosing coolant on my 1984 F250 6.9. I have a pressure tester kit and also tried renting one from a local auto parts store, but was unable to get an adapter that fits my radiator. The previous owner said he just replaced the water pump and I took the radiator out recently and brought it to an old-school radiator shop to repair it. I'm not sure where the coolant is coming from. Where can I get a pressure adapter that will fit?
Thanks,
h.ubk
I am loosing coolant on my 1984 F250 6.9. I have a pressure tester kit and also tried renting one from a local auto parts store, but was unable to get an adapter that fits my radiator. The previous owner said he just replaced the water pump and I took the radiator out recently and brought it to an old-school radiator shop to repair it. I'm not sure where the coolant is coming from. Where can I get a pressure adapter that will fit?
Thanks,
h.ubk
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Is there fluid leaking out or is it dissapearing? Did you or the PO use coolant treatment or whatever it's called for the coolant change? I've heard about cavitation but I believe it wouldn't be as common on the 6.9 compared to the 7.3 idi.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
I've noticed a few times there is a puddle on the driveway. The underside is dirty so I can't see very well right now if I were to climb underneath it.
I don't know what the PO did, but I checked the coolant on a test strip and it was in normal limits. The truck was well cared for by the previous owner. I don't think this is a cavitation issue. I just drove it 2000 miles in the last few months with no coolant loss, so this is something new.
There is a clamp on the overflow tank that I noticed was not in place to secure the overflow hose, so I re-attached that. I don't know if that will help.
Regarding the pressure tester, I first went to O'reillys and got a set with about 6 adapters. I just went to Autozone and got a kit with 22 adapters that did work. It held at 25 psi cold for about 5 minutes.
h.ubk
I don't know what the PO did, but I checked the coolant on a test strip and it was in normal limits. The truck was well cared for by the previous owner. I don't think this is a cavitation issue. I just drove it 2000 miles in the last few months with no coolant loss, so this is something new.
There is a clamp on the overflow tank that I noticed was not in place to secure the overflow hose, so I re-attached that. I don't know if that will help.
Regarding the pressure tester, I first went to O'reillys and got a set with about 6 adapters. I just went to Autozone and got a kit with 22 adapters that did work. It held at 25 psi cold for about 5 minutes.
h.ubk
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,978
Likes: 514
From: Edmond, OK
You can drive your truck to the spray wash and use hi pressure soap to blast off all of the oily grime on the bottom of the engine. Then perform the pressure test on the cooling system and look for leaks. 
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
Ok, some progress on this. The leak is now dribbling for quite a bit after the engine is turned off and while it is running. It is dripping from above the starter motor on the passenger side of the engine. I pulled the glove box and can see the heater core and it looks bone dry. I also inspected the heater core hoses and they appear to be newer and in good condition.
Another strange symptom I have noticed a few times is that if the truck has sat overnight and I pull off the radiator cap, there is still a tiny bit of pressure in there that will spit out coolant.
Does this point to a head gasket issue? Or is there a freeze plug or something else in that area?
h.ubk
Another strange symptom I have noticed a few times is that if the truck has sat overnight and I pull off the radiator cap, there is still a tiny bit of pressure in there that will spit out coolant.
Does this point to a head gasket issue? Or is there a freeze plug or something else in that area?
h.ubk
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
I read in another thread the block heater is located there. I checked it and it is also dry.
h.ubk
h.ubk
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 78
Gonna have to get dirty, i'd soap it and blast the motor at the car wash.
Take out the starter, it's easy IF you have a wide variety of 3/8 ths extensions and socket sizes. Just reach that top bolt long enough past the starter but shorter than the x member, you have about 2 inches there.
Take a cinder block with you, no need to unhook any wiring as long as you are careful. Lay starter on the block and slide them out of the way.
It's much easier to see up there with that out of the way.
Take out the starter, it's easy IF you have a wide variety of 3/8 ths extensions and socket sizes. Just reach that top bolt long enough past the starter but shorter than the x member, you have about 2 inches there.
Take a cinder block with you, no need to unhook any wiring as long as you are careful. Lay starter on the block and slide them out of the way.
It's much easier to see up there with that out of the way.
Scope Wizard
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,530
Likes: 25
it could very well be running down from the Head... as said need to clean it up then you can probably find it with an endoscope Camera.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
Yep, I just put a new starter in so I know the special procedure. I did clean it at the car wash yesterday. I'm going to put in some GM block sealant tomorrow. If that does not work, I will pull the starter and keep investigating. I do have an endoscope camera so that would be a good next move.
h.ubk
h.ubk
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 78
That's really awesome, glad it stopped up the leak and hope it holds up well, certainly gets good reviews.
One thing to watch out for, if you are unsure of the previous maintenance, it is reccomended to use sca's in these motors.
If you have green glycol or just regular coolant no problem , however if sca's were indeed used, it could have a bad reaction in the coolant system, I'm no expert just saying I wouldn't use without testing if the coolant had been treated with additive.
Though your probably be okay, it's pretty likely they used regular coolant without treatment.
One thing to watch out for, if you are unsure of the previous maintenance, it is reccomended to use sca's in these motors.
If you have green glycol or just regular coolant no problem , however if sca's were indeed used, it could have a bad reaction in the coolant system, I'm no expert just saying I wouldn't use without testing if the coolant had been treated with additive.
Though your probably be okay, it's pretty likely they used regular coolant without treatment.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post