I was out looking under the hood of my bronco 96 5.8 w 59,4xx miles and noticed some coolant on the tray type thing under the radiator. Then I noticed coolant also under the lower intake couldn't really see where either were coming from. i searched and read some thing like tightening the lower intake bolts, replacing thermostat and gasket, and replacing radiator cap. I was wondering if I clean it all up and let it run would I be able to notice the leak. I read the thermostat gasket sometimes will spray coolant all over so I am hoping it sprayed up by the intake aand some went down by the radiator tray. If there are any other things to check will you please help thanks

 

Clean up the wet areas then run the truck for a while and keep an eye out for moisture returning in the areas mentioned. The splash shield along the underside of the radiator usually means something near or attached to the radiator, i.e. upper/lower hoses, or the plastic end tanks especially at the seams where they mate with the aluminum core.

The lower intake situation could be the water neck gasket (thermostat gasket) and/or the coolant cross-over passage in the lower intake. The difficulty with the latter is that sometimes retorquing the lower intake-to-cylinder head bolts rectifies the problem, and sometimes the gasket needs replacing which entails tearing the intake off the engine. My brother's 95 F-150 currently has this problem and the bolts have been retorqued already so its gasket time.

 

The hose ends leak - look for white powder on the radiator end tank below the hose on the pass side. Also, run a finger below the hose connection to the thermostat housing. On almost all of my 80's vintage Fords, I've double clamped the radiator connection because they just leak. Plastic seals poorly. I also have adjusted the install depth on the thermostat outlet hose to stop a small but persistant leak there. (the one that fills up that channel above the water pump) If you have to replace an intake gasket, take the time to make the alignment studs - it helps a lot more than one would guess when reassembling

 

Bronco started to leak more. I was looking and more coolant was running by the lower intake. So I climbed on topand looked down it looks to be leaking from the temperature sending switch I believe it is called. If you know the correct name please let me know. That is solved now it is time for a new radiator since the old one is leaking alot too

 

The sender you are looking at is the ECT sensor (Engine Coolant Temperature). Its the one that feeds the PCM with engine temp information.

 

I went to the auto parts store and the pulled out a sensor that has a 2 prongs in it. But the one that is leaking has a bolt that come up and a rubber boot that goes over it what is that called. Is that the temperature sending unit?

 

Ah, then yes, thats the temp sender for the gauge rather than for the PCM. Most likely a less expensive part too.

 

thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

Brad