smell coolant
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smell coolant
I just recently bought a 2000 f350 superduty. When I first start it I smell coolant from under the hood. I do not see any leaks, or seem to be loosing fluid.
Or once it gets hot??
Just wondering if the V10 had anything in particlular I should look for first.
It has 76000 miles on it.
Thanks lugnutt
Or once it gets hot??
Just wondering if the V10 had anything in particlular I should look for first.
It has 76000 miles on it.
Thanks lugnutt
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Burnsville, MN
Nope, no characteristic problems associated with coolant. However, a word of caution. Just in case you are tempted to hose the engine down good and clean and then look later for the leak, DON'T!
The V10's are sensitive to water on the COPS and boots, so you'll want to look for the coolant leak some other way.....
The V10's are sensitive to water on the COPS and boots, so you'll want to look for the coolant leak some other way.....
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Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Central Pennsylvania
I have a '99. For about 2 years I smelled coolant in the same way. Mine had minor leaks at the hose clamps on the overflow and radiator. Thought that solved the problem, but it persisted. And I lost a quart every 3-4 months. Ended up that my overflow resevoir was cracked at the bottom hose. I had lost the top mounting bolt that holds the tank in place and the vibration and stress from the wind apparently caused it to make hairline cracks.
Tony
Tony
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Cool, (no pun intended lol) I have a pressure tester. I will do that, just wanted to see if there was a place to pay attention to, I see its the resovoir and hoses.
I praying its not the Radiator, that doesnt sound cheap!!
thanks agian lug
I praying its not the Radiator, that doesnt sound cheap!!
thanks agian lug
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From: Central Pennsylvania
Probably is leaking somewhere very minor. When you start the engine the engine fan blows coolant over or around the leaking area and brings the smell up to the nose. 
Just making the point that it most likely isn't something that ONLY leaks when you start up the engine. You might find it best by looking around BEFORE starting the engine. If you aren't losing fluid yet, it must be very minor, but it will probably start losing some eventually. Keep an eye on the fluid level till you get it solved.
TG
Just making the point that it most likely isn't something that ONLY leaks when you start up the engine. You might find it best by looking around BEFORE starting the engine. If you aren't losing fluid yet, it must be very minor, but it will probably start losing some eventually. Keep an eye on the fluid level till you get it solved.TG
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lugnutt how did this turn out?? I am having the same problem with my excursion. I do have a clue though antifreeze under the overflow tank. is it worth replacing the tank and clamp at the same time?? any help would be greatly appreciated.
JM
JM
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Originally Posted by lugnutt
I just recently bought a 2000 f350 superduty. When I first start it I smell coolant from under the hood.
tykateexcursion: Do the clamp first. Hard to imagine that tank splitting. But certainly is not out of the realm of possibility.
Last edited by Monsta; Dec 5, 2006 at 11:44 PM.
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thanks, It is a great way of geting a hair cut!! It is about 10 degrees out tonight and yes the engine is not running. I notice that there is a small drip and crack around the inlet for the hose.. So i gues it will be a tank and clamp. o well the could here in wisconsin brings out the worst of the plastic parts.
thanks for your help
JM
thanks for your help
JM
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Plastex ( http://plastex.home.att.net/ ) is a permanant PLASTIC repair. It is to plastic what JB-Weld is to most metals. Save some dough...it's Christmas! Donate your savings to charity. 
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If you are smelling antifreeze under the hood there is an excellent chance the overflow reservoir is cracked on the bottom. Don't bother trying to epoxy or JB Weld it. NOTHING WORKS. Just pay the Ford store the money and replace it. I have had this happen twice now in less than a year on my family fleet of vehicles. It really ticks me off that they charged me over $80 bucks for a plastic tank this small. Only Ford carries this part, and my dealer parts department had 8 in stock...........proof that this is a high useage item and a problem area. This last one leaked so slow that I was thinking it was somewhere else. After pulling it out I could see signs of moisture on the inner fender and it was obvious this was where the leak was. Wish I had tried the Plastex mentioned in the above message! My tank looked like it had several hairline cracks beginning but only one was leaking.
Last edited by KRB; Dec 6, 2006 at 06:44 PM.
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From: Long Island USA
Sounds like your resevoir.
One note: I cracked the intake manifold on my '97 Cougar (not that it has ANYTHING to do with your problem!) and anti-freeze went EVERYWHERE.
I hosed and hosed and hosed everything off before AND after I replaced the intake, and I smelled anti-freeze for MONTHS afterwards. It eventually went away
My point? Anti-freeze leaks, even once they are fixed, you'll smell them for a while afterwards.
So, even if you fix everything, take your time, it might smell the same for a while ...
One note: I cracked the intake manifold on my '97 Cougar (not that it has ANYTHING to do with your problem!) and anti-freeze went EVERYWHERE.
I hosed and hosed and hosed everything off before AND after I replaced the intake, and I smelled anti-freeze for MONTHS afterwards. It eventually went away
My point? Anti-freeze leaks, even once they are fixed, you'll smell them for a while afterwards.
So, even if you fix everything, take your time, it might smell the same for a while ...
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From: USA
Don't forget to chk the heater hose(factory clamp) that goes to the heater core on the pass side .This is a common place for it to leak oi or into the last plug hole area on the pass side .Eventually will cause a misfire or corroded plug.
Rich
Rich