Losing Coolant
Guest
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Losing Coolant
Here I go again, 1988 F150 XLT/Lariat with 300/i6 and 5 speed tranny. I have been losing coolant since I have had this vehicle (14 mos.). I had the cooling system pressure tested and everything was fine. Noticed signs of coolant coming out of the top of my overflow jug. Pressure tested radiator cap and it would not hold pressure. I thought great this is my problem and replaced the cap. Still to no avail, I am still having to add water/coolant every 3 days. I noticed my front freeze plugs showing signs of leakage. Could this be my culprit or is it something else? Again, any help will be greatly appreciated. This truck has 145,000 miles on it. Other than the loss of coolant, exhaust leak, and tranny woes, it is in great shape and need it to last another 145,000 miles. HELP!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Losing Coolant
i had a couple of freeze pulgs rust out on me. it was just a constant drip, until one night, in the middle of nowhere, they completely opened up, and all the coolant drained!
that sucked.
anyway, get the freeze plugs checked. i was told that rusted-out freeze plugs can be common.
that sucked.
anyway, get the freeze plugs checked. i was told that rusted-out freeze plugs can be common.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Losing Coolant
>Here I go again, 1988 F150 XLT/Lariat
>with 300/i6 and 5 speed tranny.
> I have been losing coolant
>since I have had this vehicle
>(14 mos.). I had the
>cooling system pressure tested and everything
>was fine. Noticed signs of
>coolant coming out of the top
>of my overflow jug. Pressure tested
>radiator cap and it would not
>hold pressure. I thought great
>this is my problem and replaced
>the cap. Still to no avail,
>I am still having to add
>water/coolant every 3 days. I
>noticed my front freeze plugs showing
>signs of leakage. Could this
>be my culprit or is it
>something else? Again, any help
>will be greatly appreciated. This
>truck has 145,000 miles on it.
> Other than the loss of
>coolant, exhaust leak, and tranny woes,
>it is in great shape and
>need it to last another 145,000
>miles. HELP!!!
Could there be pressure building up and blowing it out of my overflow container while I am driving?
>with 300/i6 and 5 speed tranny.
> I have been losing coolant
>since I have had this vehicle
>(14 mos.). I had the
>cooling system pressure tested and everything
>was fine. Noticed signs of
>coolant coming out of the top
>of my overflow jug. Pressure tested
>radiator cap and it would not
>hold pressure. I thought great
>this is my problem and replaced
>the cap. Still to no avail,
>I am still having to add
>water/coolant every 3 days. I
>noticed my front freeze plugs showing
>signs of leakage. Could this
>be my culprit or is it
>something else? Again, any help
>will be greatly appreciated. This
>truck has 145,000 miles on it.
> Other than the loss of
>coolant, exhaust leak, and tranny woes,
>it is in great shape and
>need it to last another 145,000
>miles. HELP!!!
Could there be pressure building up and blowing it out of my overflow container while I am driving?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Losing Coolant
Hdlinerman, your coolant recovery tank isn't full is it? there is a line on the tank to fill it to.make sure the hose running from the radiator is all the way down in it. and your coolant could leak from the freeze plugs under pressure also. a tight seal on the radiator cap is important ,so the coolant can transfer back and forth from the recovery tank to the radiator, if you can see the freeze plugs leaking like you said I'd replace them then see what happens then. good luck.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Losing Coolant
When I fill the recovery tank, I never add more to it than the line that you mentioned. And as far as I can tell, there is a tight seal with the cap and the tank. For the freeze plugs, I have never seen them actually leaking, the block is stained right below them as if they had been leaking. After driving the truck any distance, I can park the vehicle and there is no evidence of fluid being on the ground below the engine compartment. Another theory I had not wanted to think is if I could be loosing it through my intake/exhaust ports, i.e.; blown head gaskets. I do have an exhaust leak at the manifold. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with this?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 1
Losing Coolant
You may be losing some through the heater core or hoses leading to it.Turn on the heater to high and full hot and smell a little bit.Most busted heater cores will drain the coolant through the same drain as for the A/C evaperator.
Phillip
Phillip
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
Losing Coolant
Have you accomplished a compression check? It may just be a head gasket going bad and your coolant is going up in smoke. With 145,000 miles on it, it is a possibility. I would think that if you had a leak bad enough to have to add coolant every three days you would have seen something on the ground by now. Good luck to you.
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