[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Apr-02 AT 09:47 PM (EST)]"Roadside Assistance" card soon.

Ran up to the local quickie place to get some ice for my daughter's b-day party this afternoon and had the A/C on for the very first time. After I returned and was in the house for a while (maybe 20-30 mins.) my bro-in-law came in and said something about the leaking stuff under the truck. I told him I had the A/C on and it was just condensation water. Well...

A little closer look and it was definately not A/C moisture but real live coolant! Fairly steady stream pouring down from the driver side bank dripping down over the front axle. Couldn't quite nail down the exact leak point but was curious if anyone has had a similar thing happen to them? (See my signature for details) 2900 miles on it.

Can't drive it, leaks too much! I'll call dealer Monday a.m. and have it towed I suppose. Thanks for the replies.


DaleL

'02 F250XL 4x4 5.4L Auto 4:10 Reg cab LB WORK TRUCK!

 

sorry bout the bad news man. i noticed that yer engine is a 5.4, i hope that this isnt a common prob. cus i also have the 5.4. did you find out where the leak is comming from? anyhow, keep us posted on what the problem is.


-nathan

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Apr-02 AT 02:08 PM (EST)]Nathan,

Yeah I'll keep ya informed as to what it ends up being. It appears to be coming from around the lower radiator hose where it comes out of the block (on drivers side). Had 'good' clothes on last evening when this whole thing started so I didn't crawl up under too far! It's pouring rain here today and it won't FIT through my garage door, it's TOO TALL! So I'll just wait till in the morning and call my local dealer and see when they want it to arrive!!!

DaleL

'02 F250XL 4x4 5.4L Auto 4:10 Reg cab LB WORK TRUCK! (see gallery)

 

I believe all you are seeing is coolant overflow ............ which is nothing to worry about . You may have been a little too full on coolant to start off with . I wouldn't worry unless you see STEAM RISING from under the hood indicating a leak , or you see you temp gauge clime up to the higher levels .

Petre

 

>I believe all you are seeing is coolant overflow
>............ which is nothing to worry about . You may have
>been a little too full on coolant to start off with . I
>wouldn't worry unless you see STEAM RISING from under the
>hood indicating a leak , or you see you temp gauge clime up
>to the higher levels .
>
>Petre

We thought about the overflow thing also but I'm telling ya it was really coming out from wherever it was! Nearly a steady stream! Also the coolant level in the plastic resavour (sp?) (rez-uh-vor!) was below the MIN mark. I'm chicken to go ahead and drive it without at least talking to 'em at Ford...

Thanks for the reply Petre.

DaleL

'02 F250XL 4x4 5.4L Auto 4:10 Reg cab LB WORK TRUCK! (see gallery)

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Apr-02 AT 02:50 PM (EST)]I dont know about the Ford , but on my Mercedes these are under pressure like the radiator , and if they are overfilled , they will upon reaching a certain presure pop a safety valve that will stay open until pressure drops .

Ford may have gone to this type of system . I'd have to look to be sure , but if its on a Benz it's got to be a good system .

You may have had a stuck open pressure relief .

At this point I am guessing , but I'd check that out first .

Running the AC HAD to bring your temp up higher than it's been before.

Petre

 

I just went out and checked and the res IS pressurized. 16psi says on the cap.


DaleL

'02 F250XL 4x4 5.4L Auto 4:10 Reg cab LB WORK TRUCK! (see gallery)

 

I had a leak on my '01 PSD. It was the lower hose clamp busted into two. And on a saturday it was faster for me to replace the clamp myself. (I also had extra clamps from retired trucks)

 

>"Roadside Assistance" card soon.
>
>Ran up to the local quickie place to get some ice for my
>daughter's b-day party this afternoon and had the A/C on for
>the very first time. After I returned and was in the house
>for a while (maybe 20-30 mins.) my bro-in-law came in and
>said something about the leaking stuff under the truck. I
>told him I had the A/C on and it was just condensation
>water. Well...
>
>A little closer look and it was definately not A/C moisture
>but real live coolant! Fairly steady stream pouring down
>from the driver side bank dripping down over the front axle.
> Couldn't quite nail down the exact leak point but
>was curious if anyone has had a similar thing happen to
>them? (See my signature for details) 2900 miles on it.
>
>Can't drive it, leaks too much! I'll call dealer Monday
>a.m. and have it towed I suppose. Thanks for the replies.
>
>
>DaleL
>
>'02 F250XL 4x4 5.4L Auto 4:10 Reg cab LB WORK TRUCK!

Dale!
Did you see my post awhile back about the lower rad hose on
5.4's being real close to the steering box.
Mine was rubbing a hole in the hose.
had to loosen clamp and rotate hose away from the box.
Just my $.02
Hope it is nothing real serious.

Rich





Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

i seen yer post bout that forty fords and went out and checked mine, it was close but i didnt have to move it, ill check it out tomarrow to see if it has moved or if it does touch it once in a while.


-nathan

 

Thanks a bunch Guys, for your replies! My applologies for not being on the board for a few days (I'm in the lawn care biz and you can imagine...!) I've been meeting myself coming and going!

But hey FortyFords, I DID see your post regarding the radiator hose and did check mine at that time..but didn't seem to be that close. As a couple of you have already indicated, it was indeed the lower radiator hose clamp that was the culprit! Just a side note here-the 'Roadside Assistance' experience was a very good one. The fellow on the phone taking the info was extrordinarily nice and quite a gentleman! Kudos to Ford for that asspect of owning a new truck.

The dealership I had it 'shipped' to was not the one from where it was purch'd. But had a positive experience with them. Another interesting thing happened when I went to pick it up...(sorry for the long post!) He asked me what I used the 5W-30 CASTROL oil in ( I had a spare quart under the hood!). I told him the motor! I told him that I had already changed oil in it and decided to use the 5W-30. Well, he proceeded to tell me that the manufacturer recommends blah blah blah! I told him I was aware of the controversy over the 20 weight. But he was nice about it just suggested that I use what is rec'd and IF there are any problems, the Ford would take care of it. He gave me the 'tight tolerances' thing and even said that there have been a few cases where the backpressure in the 'tight' engine using a 30 weight oil actually blew off 'filters'!!! I don't know about that but I am considering taking his advise. Any thoughts on that?


Thanks again...
DaleL

'02 F250XL 4x4 5.4L Auto 4:10 Reg cab LB WORK TRUCK! (see gallery)

 

Check your lower radiator hose clamp.Mine broke 2nd day.I've talked to some sd owners who also had the lower clamp break.

 

My '02 F250 is going to the garage today to have the lower clamp replaced. It broke at 2800 miles and started to leak. The garage said they are all breaking.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Apr-02 AT 05:43 PM (EST)]The 5W20 explaination is TOTAL BS. These 'parts exchangers' listen to the Ford reps and do not use common sense.

People who build engines for a living and know how engines work are laughing about this all over the world. 5W20 is for CAFE / Mileage ratings and nothing more. Mileage ratings that mean nothing to the individual consumer... but on economies of scale mean something to the manufacturer.

The tighter "clearances" (sometimes WRONGLY referred to as "tolerances") is total crap. The space that is required for a film of oil has not changed much over the decades ("relatively" speaking).

For me, 20 weight oil is too thin... especially for summer time. I use 5W30 Mobil-1. Of course, I think any would suffice. 25W50 might be pushing it though....

I like the 5W for cold starting.

.... I had to add more to this...

When did 5W20 start being recommended? If someone can tell me what mechanical changes took place in our Triton engines in that changeover year that would necessitate 5W20 over 5W30, I MIGHT think more about this debate...

 

I'm inclined to agree with RJKobbeman.