Antifreeze smell...
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock, TX
Antifreeze smell...
When first started, and occasionally during running, you can smell antifreeze real strong...
There are no puddles, no obvious leaks under the hood, the rad level never drops, and it is not from the exhaust...only from around the hood...
Any ideas, or is this normal with the 4.0?
There are no puddles, no obvious leaks under the hood, the rad level never drops, and it is not from the exhaust...only from around the hood...
Any ideas, or is this normal with the 4.0?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Originally Posted by maxwgn
When first started, and occasionally during running, you can smell antifreeze real strong...
There are no puddles, no obvious leaks under the hood, the rad level never drops, and it is not from the exhaust...only from around the hood...
Any ideas, or is this normal with the 4.0?
There are no puddles, no obvious leaks under the hood, the rad level never drops, and it is not from the exhaust...only from around the hood...
Any ideas, or is this normal with the 4.0?
It might be that you also have a small leak on a soft plug. Inspect the engine area real carefully for a small leak.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock, TX
it's not inside the van at all...all outside...usually when I walk my wife to her van when she goes to work, and when running errands, hopping out real fast whiel she stays in the van...passing the front of the van - especially the driver's side...
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
check the heater and radiator hoses especially at the clamps while hot, may be on bottom side out of direct view, mirror helps and good lighting. small leak will steam up cold mirror
Caution is the main word, these Aero's run hot under the hood. Engine OFF and gloves on.
Caution is the main word, these Aero's run hot under the hood. Engine OFF and gloves on.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: staten island
Cheak for leaks at the freeze out plugs. There is one on each head at the rear of the engine. You need to open the access panel below the dash. From this vantage point you can see the upper rear of the engine easily. Other freeze plugs on the block should be checked also.
Trending Topics
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
If I were you, I'd replace all radiator and heater hoses. You can not afford to have something happen that might make the 4.0 overheat. The 4.0 is especially vulnerable to head warpage. If it is still haveing this smell after the hoses have been replaced, you can try some of the better stop leak type products. If that still doesn't resolve the problem then you may need to try some sort of leak detecter product.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock, TX
Thanks....I'm hoping to get new rad hoses this weekend (I seriously hope - if pay check is big enough...gotta feed three hungry kids first)...
as for the heater hoses, where are they routed, and how hard to change?
Also, since the auto tranny's in these things seem to be considered somewhat of a weak point, do they have any issues power flushing them? I know some auto's have a bad tendency to fail shortly after a power flush...
as for the heater hoses, where are they routed, and how hard to change?
Also, since the auto tranny's in these things seem to be considered somewhat of a weak point, do they have any issues power flushing them? I know some auto's have a bad tendency to fail shortly after a power flush...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 1
From: Mitchell, SD
I would not power flush the tranny. It tends to stir things up and cause damage in Ford tranny's. You are better off with the drain and fill routine alomg with filter change.
Heater hoses, depends, do you have rear hvac? if so it is a PIA.
Heater hoses, depends, do you have rear hvac? if so it is a PIA.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 425
Likes: 8
From: Park Ridge, Illinois
Hopefully, you are not seeing white smopke when you first start the car / loosing fluid from the reseovior. I have a cracked head on mine so we get a definite wiff of antifreeze. Good luck!
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
drivers side? I suspect upper hose. as kruse suggested, a pin hole leak may only let odor and very minute amounts of coolant escape, especially if it happens to be located at a very high spot on the hose.although mine doesn't have the rear hvac system so I could be wrong.
93night...are they located similar to those with only the front hvac? if so, the upper hose is the only one on the drivers side. hope this helps.
Gary
93night...are they located similar to those with only the front hvac? if so, the upper hose is the only one on the drivers side. hope this helps.
Gary
Last edited by xuzme720; Aug 1, 2005 at 08:49 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
how long since radiator cap was replaced. seals may be cracked and seeping vapor. I replace mine every 3 years even if it looks good.
radiator cap fails on a hot Sunday trip far from any shops and it makes for a long day. Aero heads and replacement are about 200 times more $$ than a radiator cap.
radiator cap fails on a hot Sunday trip far from any shops and it makes for a long day. Aero heads and replacement are about 200 times more $$ than a radiator cap.