Need Help! 6.9L dropping radiator fluid
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Need Help! 6.9L dropping radiator fluid
1985 F250 XLT 129,000 miles, hypermax exhaust, ran great for last year and a half that I have owned it and just now coming home up a hill I was loosing radiator fluid like crazy (according to the guy behind me who later stopped me to tell me that). As soon as the guy told me I checked the temp and it was high but not crazy high. Looked under the hood and couldn't find where the fluid was coming from but it looks like it is in the back of the engine compartment. Checked the oil and no sign of milkyness, checked the oil fill cap and the normal amount of vapor was there so I am lost. Did I blow a freeze plug? Should I fill it with water and let it idle to try to locate the leak? A little desparate here because I just bought a 23' boat and need this truck to launch it. any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Andrew
Thanks,
Andrew
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I was thinking that too (filling it up with deionized water to see where it is coming out). Would it be a lame fix just to slap some epoxy putty where the leak is being that I never need the block heater or go into freezing weather?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Considering how disasterous things could have been if this is indeed what happened, I would only use epoxy as a temporary fix. A block heater does not cost that much and I would go that route if the leak is found to be at the block heater.
Lead Driver
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
The other main suspect is the block heater which is located over the starter. I've delt with a few now that have a dried up O ring and corroded or striped clamp that allows it to get worse over time. I was lucky both times and caught it before it was too late.
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Poured water in the radiator while the motor was off and immediately I heard water slapping the ground and I get under there to find this;
So what are some ways to seal this sucker up? I briefly tapped on the plug and it isnt rattling or anything but a repeat of this test followed by quickly getting under there confirmed that the water is coming out this freeze plug.
So what are some ways to seal this sucker up? I briefly tapped on the plug and it isnt rattling or anything but a repeat of this test followed by quickly getting under there confirmed that the water is coming out this freeze plug.
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Post Fiend
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
OK the oil filter is mounted on the rear oil cooler header.
The gasket between the header and block have both coolant and oil flow through them.
All the oil comes out of the oil pump and goes out through the front oil cooler header, through the tube, through the filter and back into the block through the rear header.
All coolant goes into the front of the block, then right into the front cooler header, through the tube and returns to the block through the rear header.
So are you sure the plug is leaking, or is it spraying out the rear oil cooler header to block gasket?
The gasket between the header and block have both coolant and oil flow through them.
All the oil comes out of the oil pump and goes out through the front oil cooler header, through the tube, through the filter and back into the block through the rear header.
All coolant goes into the front of the block, then right into the front cooler header, through the tube and returns to the block through the rear header.
So are you sure the plug is leaking, or is it spraying out the rear oil cooler header to block gasket?
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I am 99% sure but will rig up a video camera with a light to be 100% sure. I thought that it might be leaking near the oil filter but the plug is above that and I saw the water come out of the plug. But it came out like a faucet which would be difficult to imagine given the very small opening between the plug and block. Is there a better way to see which part is the problem? Is it more feasible that the oil cooler is the problem rather than the plug given that it happened very quickly? I'll be tackling this tomorrow afternoon.
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Okay so I just checked again starting with dry surfaces the the fluid is coming from the rear oil cooler header to block gasket from the top part of the gasket. Any suggestions on this one? I plan to drain the oil and pull it off to see if there is a crack or something.
Post Fiend
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
E3TZ-6A636-G
E3TZ-6A636-H
Those are the Ford numbers for the header gaskets.
Both should cost under 10 dollars together.
Although it will not be fun, you can probably change the gaskets without pulling the oil cooler completely out.
Scraping the old gaskets off will be the hard part.
To remove the oil cooler from the truck, you need to loosen the drivers side motor mount, then jack the engine up as far as you can.
Once the engine is up, block it there si it don't fall on your fingers if something slips.
That will give you enough clearance to get the oil cooler out toward the rear.
E3TZ-6A636-H
Those are the Ford numbers for the header gaskets.
Both should cost under 10 dollars together.
Although it will not be fun, you can probably change the gaskets without pulling the oil cooler completely out.
Scraping the old gaskets off will be the hard part.
To remove the oil cooler from the truck, you need to loosen the drivers side motor mount, then jack the engine up as far as you can.
Once the engine is up, block it there si it don't fall on your fingers if something slips.
That will give you enough clearance to get the oil cooler out toward the rear.
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Thats what the manual said to do but I don't have a flat surface to work on and right now the truck is on a decent incline on the driveway. Should I take it to a shop? If it is $$$ then I can move out the crap in the garage to get it part way in there but I have no problem saving myself time by taking it in.
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got the parts ($17 from the ford dealer because NAPA did not have the $5.78 set in stock but I feel better knowing these are the correct ones) thanks for the part #'s Dave. Is it common for these to fail?
Cleaned out the garage and it is draining right now so I should have it done by the end of the night. Dealer wanted $470+ to do it.
Cleaned out the garage and it is draining right now so I should have it done by the end of the night. Dealer wanted $470+ to do it.