Hi everybody, i have a 1999 f-150 5.4l 4x4. I have realized that the coolant is a brown color and maybe just a little thick. The truck has 80k miles and the coolant has never been changed...the truck has been off-roaded a few times : ). I was wondering if the coolant may just be in need of a change or if it is definetly head gaskets? Can the coolant turn brownish over time or does this color mean it's definetly leaky head gaskets?

If it is headgaskets do they have to be changed or can i just change the coolant every 15-20k miles and be ok? Or maybe it's covered under warranty i brought from dealer...but hopefully my headgaskets are ok.

I can't check anything on the truck right now because it is at the dealer being fixed (broken linkage in the steering wheel) $400 for parts labor and tow : (. Wasn't covered under warranty.

Thanks,
TJ

 

Change the coolant.

 

Should be changed every two years. Cheap insurance.

 

k i'll change it..but i think my head gaskets may be leaking...i forgot to add the fact that sometimes when i put the truck through a little torture (high RPM's for a bit of time) smoke will come fom high up on the passengers side under the hood. Not very much smoke at all tho. Still hopeful that headgaskets not messed up or if they are that they covered under warranty.

anyways i'll change the coolant as time as i get the truck back

thanks,
TJ

 

OUCH!! That's a tell tale sign. What does your temp guage do when this happens? Someone may need to correct me, but that sounds like the head is leaking. However, I wouldn't say the gasket is bad yet. And what's all this talk of warranty? What kind of warranty did you buy with it? If you've got power train coverage, I'd say they should cover it. Unless of course, they determine the engine has been abused!

 

a 12 month 12k mile warranty, from dealership (bought used), temp gauge doesn't ever go up.

 

if your head gasget is leaking you should also be able to see a slight blueish(i believe) tinge in your exhaust color and be able to smell the coolant burning in your exhaust

 

would the coolant levels be dropping? the level of the coolant hasn't dropped any over a 2 month period...i marked it and it has stayed the same. my exhaust is white sometimes but not usuallly, only if it rains and/or is very cold. I am guessing that it probably is leaking...still maybe not tho, but if it is does it need an immediate fix or can i take it to the dealership later?

Thanks,
TJ

 

if the level isnt going down, then it prolly isnt leaking, and the white is just the humidity in the air, h20 is a by product off everything thats happening in your engine, so the white is normal, but if the level isnt dropping i would assume that your not losing any

 

k thnx man, hopefully the head isn't leakin. all that worried me was the smoke. but i did forget to mention that the smoke from the passenger side on the engine was only after a very short high rpm ride. from town to home..happened to wanna go a little fast, only a 10 minute drive. hopefully that was just condesation being burned off becuase the last probaly 3 or 4 trips it had taken were also only 10 minute trips.

later,
TJ

 

flush it with chemical and definitely change the thermostat (at least), and give a try K&M block sealer here's the link of my experience....https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...-question.html Good luck

 

If you arent loosing any coolant, don't mess with a sealer. Even if you are, don't mess with a sealer. Sealers are band aids at best and problem causers at worst. I believe in treating the root cause, not the symptom. If you have a leak, fix the leak - with a replacement seal, gasket, whatever. The brown coolant is coming from neglected coolant. Even the long life coolants say 5 years max - yours is 8 years old. The block is cast iron and you are getting some rust inside the block as the rust inhibitors in the coolant are all used up. As far as the smoke on the pass side high, chances are much better for a minor valve cover leak or similar over the exhaust manifold. Or your heater hoses are just starting to leak and drip on the back of the motor/exhaust. These trucks are famous for this. IF it is the heater hoses you will also soon have a misfire on the rear plugs. I would probably have a professional back flush the cooling system. At this age you might want to go ahead and replace all the hoses. Buy them from Ford - especially the lower one with the tee section. I bought one from a big box store, the fit sucked, and the way it was made looked suspect. I took it back and bought Ford parts. Anyway, it is much easier to replace your hoses at your convenience then waiting until they pop and having a hefty tow bill and possible engine damage added in.

 

eh i'll just try to get the dealership to fix it like next month or either in a couple months...maybe nothing is wrong with it hopefully not. but if it is maybe it'll be covered under the warranty (hopefully). and if not i'll use the block sealer