Coolant Leak

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Dec 2, 2020 | 11:10 AM

burban77

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 65

Likes: 3

From: Eden Prairie, MN

Coolant Leak

The truck is in the garage for the winter and I go out to start it once a week or so and let it run for a while just to keep things moving around.
Yesterday, I got her started and warmed up for a bit then ran in the house to grab something. Came back out 5 minutes later and the temp gauge was reading super hot and then I noticed coolant pouring out from under the truck. There was so much of it I couldn't really tell where it was coming from. I've never had an overheating problem with it.
My first thought was a stuck closed thermostat that built up a bunch of pressure... thoughts?

Dec 2, 2020 | 11:17 AM

dubya TF

More Turbo

Joined: Mar 2018

Posts: 610

Likes: 42

From: Lacey

Buy a coolant pressure test kit, top off the coolant (even with just water) and test it with at least 13psi. You should be able to find where the leak is with a flashlight.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/snn-12270

Dec 2, 2020 | 11:45 AM

f5fordgirl

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 1,275

Likes: 134

most likely a freeze plug rusted out.

Dec 2, 2020 | 11:48 AM

burban77

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 65

Likes: 3

From: Eden Prairie, MN

Thanks for the replies. I should clarify that the coolant was definitely coming from the radiator... just not sure exactly where on the radiator.

Dec 2, 2020 | 12:19 PM

ibuzzard

See A Man About A Horse

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 4,937

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From: Mariposa, Ca.

Pull the radiator and have it repaired, maybe that’s all it needs. Gotta do that regardless. Then, diagnose if you actually have an overheating issue.

Dec 3, 2020 | 08:40 PM

Oliver Harwood

Cross-Country

Joined: Dec 2019

Posts: 79

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From: Durham

Quote:

Originally Posted by burban77

Thanks for the replies. I should clarify that the coolant was definitely coming from the radiator... just not sure exactly where on the radiator.

Don't pull the radiator until you are sure where the coolant is leaking from. The best thing you can do is get as much information as possible. Get a bunch o flight on the radiator and find out where the leak is coming from. If it's coming from the top or bottom tank of the radiator, you are in a different spot than if its coming from the core. Either way, find the leak(s) and don't be afraid to look. I know what it feels like to not want to find out more information because then there's more problems.