Radiator Leak
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: OKC
Radiator Leak
So yesterday while out and about started smelling antifreeze. Pulled into the shop and found it was leaking around the upper radiator hose right at the radiator. Loosened the clamp to inspect the hose and the neck had broken off causing the leak. Is there any way to make or replace just the neck or do I have to replace the entire radiator? Also how hard is it to replace the radiator. Thanks
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
So yesterday while out and about started smelling antifreeze. Pulled into the shop and found it was leaking around the upper radiator hose right at the radiator. Loosened the clamp to inspect the hose and the neck had broken off causing the leak. Is there any way to make or replace just the neck or do I have to replace the entire radiator? Also how hard is it to replace the radiator. Thanks
What assurances do you have that the rest of the casing is any good?
Also, I have learned in my 28 years as a repair tech that the plastic end radiators last a LOT longer than the full metal.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Two and a half bills seems like a lot of money to most of us, however.....
You'll be thinking it's chump change if you're on the side of the road out in the middle of West Texas somewhere with steam coming from under the hood and a temp gauge that's pegged.
These engines have huge cooling systems, and are very forgiving, but neglect will bite you when you least expect it.
Think of the new radiator as cheap insurance. It is.
They are easy to change. Just don't forget the tranny cooler lines have to also be removed to do the job.
This might also be a good time to change coolant types.
ALSO, since you have an old radiator that's now useless, would you be willing to tear off the tanks and inspect for core clogging? There have been several cases reported lately.
Pop
You'll be thinking it's chump change if you're on the side of the road out in the middle of West Texas somewhere with steam coming from under the hood and a temp gauge that's pegged.
These engines have huge cooling systems, and are very forgiving, but neglect will bite you when you least expect it.
Think of the new radiator as cheap insurance. It is.
They are easy to change. Just don't forget the tranny cooler lines have to also be removed to do the job.
This might also be a good time to change coolant types.
ALSO, since you have an old radiator that's now useless, would you be willing to tear off the tanks and inspect for core clogging? There have been several cases reported lately.
Pop
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: OKC
Yea fortunatly enough there is an OEM on in stock in Woodward for 235 and they are open today!!!! You are right as that is a ton of money to me right now and am trying to come up with the funds (lucky for me I have lots of excess guns) to go get it so I can be back in service tomorrow morning.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Is that like "money in the bank" in today's world, or what? You're a lucky man!
Pop
Pop
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: OKC
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,600
Likes: 3
From: Carhenge
And what antifreeze chemistry you have been running if it's not too much to ask?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: OKC
Well the coolant is green. Got it all back and installed what a breeze they actually made something easy LOL. I do have a good camera what exactly are you wanting me to do to get it right the first time and I will do it on my lunch break tomorrow. On my old radiator it didnt have any place to screw anything into. Just two place on the bottom passenger side for a large hose and a smaller one then the one up top for the main hose and the one from the reservoir. The new radiator had two places to screw in hoses I plugged those and drove about 100mi tonight with no leaks or problems. Anyway thanks for all the help guys.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
You lucked out!
Those two additional holes are the goes-in and goes-out ports for the coolant-to-oil transmission cooler. If you have an auto-trans, I HIGHLY suggest you hook it up.
The proper routing is from the transmission to one of the lower-tank ports, out of the other to the air-to-oil cooler, then out of that back to the trans.
Our member Mark Kovalski, who was a Ford factory trans engineer until a couple of years ago, says these are the basis to keeping the trans cool. 99's didn't have them, and they added them in 2000. There must have been a reason, as Ford likes to CUT costs, not add them.
Of course, if yours is a manual, just keep them plugged.
If you decide to do this job, let us know and we'll get you some installation photos for a 2000.
Pop
Those two additional holes are the goes-in and goes-out ports for the coolant-to-oil transmission cooler. If you have an auto-trans, I HIGHLY suggest you hook it up.
The proper routing is from the transmission to one of the lower-tank ports, out of the other to the air-to-oil cooler, then out of that back to the trans.
Our member Mark Kovalski, who was a Ford factory trans engineer until a couple of years ago, says these are the basis to keeping the trans cool. 99's didn't have them, and they added them in 2000. There must have been a reason, as Ford likes to CUT costs, not add them.
Of course, if yours is a manual, just keep them plugged.
If you decide to do this job, let us know and we'll get you some installation photos for a 2000.
Pop