lossing coolant
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 62
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From: North Dakota
lossing coolant
All,
The coolant level in my reservoir is gradually going down (very slow) but it has got me nervous. I can't find a leak, my oil looks good (no brown emulsificaton), no puddles on the ground. Any thoughts on where a leak might be? or where my coolant is going? Thx.
The coolant level in my reservoir is gradually going down (very slow) but it has got me nervous. I can't find a leak, my oil looks good (no brown emulsificaton), no puddles on the ground. Any thoughts on where a leak might be? or where my coolant is going? Thx.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Henderson, NV
Check the drain plugs on the sides of the block. They look like giant grub screws with a 1/4" square drive hole in them. You should be able to spot them easily through the front wheel well on each side.
See if it is slowly seeping out around the thermostat housing also. Slow leaks usually means that engine heat evaporates the coolant before it has a chance to drip to the ground.
See if it is slowly seeping out around the thermostat housing also. Slow leaks usually means that engine heat evaporates the coolant before it has a chance to drip to the ground.
Last edited by FordTruckNoob; Oct 4, 2007 at 12:31 PM.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
You cannot really tell if you have coolant in the oil by looking at it.
When your engine is warm, shut it off and open the hood. Pull your dipstick and touch the end of it to the hot exhaust manifold, placing a drop of oil on your manifold. It will smoke, so just expect that. If, however, it smokes and makes a noise like frying bacon (sizzle) then you have coolant in your oil.
When your engine is warm, shut it off and open the hood. Pull your dipstick and touch the end of it to the hot exhaust manifold, placing a drop of oil on your manifold. It will smoke, so just expect that. If, however, it smokes and makes a noise like frying bacon (sizzle) then you have coolant in your oil.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Yes, but it takes a lot of water to make "chocolate milk" in your oil pan. Check the water pump for traces of coolant that evaporated before dripping. In early stages of failure, that can happen. Look at the hoses, stat housing, and bearing area. Also are there any strange things going in with the color of the coolant in the de-gas tank? The injector o-rings/cups can cause what you're describing but usually you get a little oil/fuel in the coolant because it's much higher pressure than the coolant when running.
Joe
Joe
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From: MACON, GA
Years ago, in another life time, what would work, and I never died, but, a small drop on your little pinky, shaken, not stirred, and then a quick taste test to your tongue, will tell you, if it is sweet, that alas, you have anti freeze in your oil. Yeah, I know anti freeze will kill cats too.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 291
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From: houston,tx
Slight seepage where the aluminum core is connected to the plastic radiator tank halves is a good place to check also the hot side tank(the tank that your top rad hose goes to) is subject to cracking on the front side (the side that faces the condencer) because of the hot coolant expands the tank from years of use.
(we're talking about the '02 right)
(we're talking about the '02 right)
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My 2002 SD 5.4 had a weird coolant leak .... the lower radiator hose CLAMPS.
At first, I saw nothing ... just loosing a little coolant. Then it suddenly got real bad, and I started loosing it all. Lucky I was close to home, and that FAil-Safe system kicked in. This was a couple of years ago. I still have the original hoses on the truck. It was those funky OEM hose clamps --- they got weak as the hose got hot.
Replaced them with standard hose clamps. I mentioned it to Ford some time later, and the service guy told me he has seen that problem before.
At first, I saw nothing ... just loosing a little coolant. Then it suddenly got real bad, and I started loosing it all. Lucky I was close to home, and that FAil-Safe system kicked in. This was a couple of years ago. I still have the original hoses on the truck. It was those funky OEM hose clamps --- they got weak as the hose got hot.
Replaced them with standard hose clamps. I mentioned it to Ford some time later, and the service guy told me he has seen that problem before.
