coolant leak
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Frederick USA
coolant leak
Earlier this year, I replaced the radiator in my 95 351 EB. This past Saturday morning, I noticed a little green drip on the ground. When I popped the hood, I saw antifreeze on top of the plastic reservoir, and the level in the overflow reservoir was down a bit. I opened the radiator cap and it was full to the brim. I cleaned it up and drove it around town, and didn't see any more new spots on the ground. Yesterday, I added antifreeze to the cold fill line in the reservoir and drove about an hour, and then popped the hood and there was some antifreeze on top of the reservoir again. Is this something as simple as needing a new cap on the plastic overflow reservoir, or do I need to suspect something more sinister?
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
was the temp level OK while you were driving? you might also check the overflow hose. If it's not much coolant leaking out, and it's not running hot, there's probably nothing sinister to suspect 
.
-Josh
.-Josh
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Frederick USA
I watched the temp guage and it stayed in the lower end of the NORMAL range. I did find some coolant in front of the radiator, collected on the plastic between the rad and the front bumper. That was the first day, but none there since.
When the truck is running, does the overflow come into the reservoir with enough force to push it out of the reservoir cap?
When the truck is running, does the overflow come into the reservoir with enough force to push it out of the reservoir cap?
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
well, it usually does not come through with very much force, unless you suddenly overheat, like with a water pump failure or something. But if something like that happened, you would notice the temp change. There is a possibility that your overflow reservoir is simply overflowing. Is the water level really high in that reservoir when the engine is hot? It's not such a horrible thing to have less coolant than required to meet the "cold fill" line. Especially if you're using a different ratio of antifreeze:water than stock. If your radiator is full, you're in good shape.
