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Phantom Coolant Leak - FOUND - HELP

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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 09:45 PM
  #1  
Para_Bellum's Avatar
Para_Bellum
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From: Southeast US ; NC
Phantom Coolant Leak - FOUND - HELP

Hi All -
I have had a mystery coolant leak that I finally found but now need help with the fix.

2018, 3.5 Ecoboost. 94K miles.

I noticed one day the coolant was low, didn't think much of it, hadn't checked it in a long time and topped it off. I noticed though a few days later (after a long trip) it was low again. I started looking for the leak with no success. I've finally found it because tonight I looked and what I have been thinking was AC condensation all along is in fact the coolant - leaking down and dripping off just inside the front right/passenger wheel.

Photos here show where it's dripping down and puddling on the ground AND what I THINK is the leak point - a hose that's behind one of the turbo pipes, passenger side, and it looks like it's leaking/very wet at the Y / Joint.

Can anyone confirm what this part is? I don't think it's the dreaded turbo line leak, but I cannot figure out what part this hose is which I need to know to order it and start figuring out how to remove and replace.

All this before we are supposed to move across state lines and have a big drive ahead of us. Please help!

Leak onto the ground - always thought this was AC condensation

Coolant on the sway bar bushing (passenger side)

Coolant all over the lower frame crossmember - taken from passenger side

I THINK this is the leak point - looking up from below on pass/ side

Arrow pointing to where I think the leak is - looking down from above. What hose is this / is this a common leak point? How bad is this to DIY?

Zoomed in - Arrow pointing to where I think the leak is coming from- looking down from above. What hose is this / is this a common leak point? How bad is this to DIY?


I think this may be the hose, but cannot tell from the parts diagram online. It may also be part #20 in this diagram???

Diagram - I think this is the hose

Stock photo of the hose. I can't tell if this is it or not because I can't really see the start/end points.
 
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Old Sep 16, 2024 | 08:04 PM
  #2  
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Para_Bellum
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From: Southeast US ; NC
Quick update - I had the wrong hose shown previously. I looked in the daylight and that connection I found IS the leak but it's a heater core hose, not sure if it's the inlet or outlet. It's the lower of the two and in the diagram I found/posted, would be part 16 which is Ford part no: JL1Z-18472-B. $110 retail vs $85 online but my local dealer had it so I'll swap the part and post an update to confirm it's fixed.

No replies on this thread but hopefully this helps someone else down the road.
 
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Old Sep 17, 2024 | 06:44 AM
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SpencerPJ
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Good luck, let us know how difficult of project.
 
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