Strange Coolant Leak
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
Strange Coolant Leak
Went to my buddy's house about 20 minutes down the highway today. Before I got in the truck I noticed there were a couple drops of coolant under the radiator, but it's been raining for 4 days here and I haven't driven the truck in a week, so I didn't think much of it. I have never had any coolant leaks before. By the time I parked in my buddy's driveway it was dripping pretty good from under the truck and the whole front axle was wet. It leaked atleast 1/4 of a gallon. I limped back home. It didn't leak a drop the whole way home and the underside was dry. I sprayed it off with the hose and then put a bucket under the radiator and it's dry. I haven't topped the coolant back off yet. I'll do that tomorrow to see if its only a problem when it is at the minimum line. Other than that I noticed the radiator hose had next to no pressure while the truck was idleing. Has anyone had this problem before? Any ideas on causes?
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
Well heres an update: Left for the day this morning and it hadn't dripped once all night. Around 5PM my girlfriend checked it and sad it was dry. Got home around 8PM and it had about 6-8ozs of coolant in there. Looks like it is dripping from the bottom of the fan shroud. Its dark out, so its hard to tell. Of course it is going to rain all week, so it'dd be even harder to indentify.
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
Thanks for the pic. That area on my truck is bone dry. Behind the pulleys all the way back to the oil pan is dry. The leak would be forward of that and it runs down the fan shroud and drips to the ground from there.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 1
From: Northern Idaho
Don't know about yours. Could be the water pump. On my truck I've suddenly developed a leak where the hose connects to the water pump and where my coolant filter connects to the water pump. Haven't taken the time to pull the hoses and clean them yet, but they need to be pulled and cleaned.
Moral of the story is check your hose connections. Get her nice and hot, stop, let it sit for a couple minutes so the pressure can build up and see where your leak is at. You should get a decent stream if the pressure is high enough.
Moral of the story is check your hose connections. Get her nice and hot, stop, let it sit for a couple minutes so the pressure can build up and see where your leak is at. You should get a decent stream if the pressure is high enough.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
OK, really need some help here guys. The coolant leak went away and for the last two weeks it has been fine. I've driven it all over and kept an eye on it, no problems. Parked it on Saturday moring, everything was fine. Left for the day yesterday and left the truck at home. By the time I got home it had leaked about 10 ounces of coolant on my driveway and the truck didn't move all day. Still can't even find where it is coming from. Whats going on with my truck?!?!?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,549
Likes: 14
From: Payson, AZ
The only advice I have is you have to carefully follow the trail from where the coolant is dripping off all the way back to the source.
I think your OP said something about leaking down between the collant res and the fan cowl. If need be you may have to either remove or loosen and get those two things out of the way for a good visual inspection. You can remove the bolts holding them and just push them back enough for a decent look.
I think your OP said something about leaking down between the collant res and the fan cowl. If need be you may have to either remove or loosen and get those two things out of the way for a good visual inspection. You can remove the bolts holding them and just push them back enough for a decent look.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Check every one of those spring clamps that secure the hose to the radiator flanges.
Sounds to me like one of them has cracked from age and it is no longer putting pressure on the shoulder of the radiator flange.
They will then leak exactly as you describe, erratically.
The way to test them is to open them up, just get some strong pliers and squeeze the two ears together like you are going to release the clamp.
The culprit will not provide any spring pressure back to your hand.
Sounds to me like one of them has cracked from age and it is no longer putting pressure on the shoulder of the radiator flange.
They will then leak exactly as you describe, erratically.
The way to test them is to open them up, just get some strong pliers and squeeze the two ears together like you are going to release the clamp.
The culprit will not provide any spring pressure back to your hand.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,549
Likes: 14
From: Payson, AZ
Check every one of those spring clamps that secure the hose to the radiator flanges.
Sounds to me like one of them has cracked from age and it is no longer putting pressure on the shoulder of the radiator flange.
They will then leak exactly as you describe, erratically.
The way to test them is to open them up, just get some strong pliers and squeeze the two ears together like you are going to release the clamp.
The culprit will not provide any spring pressure back to your hand.
Sounds to me like one of them has cracked from age and it is no longer putting pressure on the shoulder of the radiator flange.
They will then leak exactly as you describe, erratically.
The way to test them is to open them up, just get some strong pliers and squeeze the two ears together like you are going to release the clamp.
The culprit will not provide any spring pressure back to your hand.
Gotcha today though. 
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
Check every one of those spring clamps that secure the hose to the radiator flanges.
Sounds to me like one of them has cracked from age and it is no longer putting pressure on the shoulder of the radiator flange.
They will then leak exactly as you describe, erratically.
The way to test them is to open them up, just get some strong pliers and squeeze the two ears together like you are going to release the clamp.
The culprit will not provide any spring pressure back to your hand.
Sounds to me like one of them has cracked from age and it is no longer putting pressure on the shoulder of the radiator flange.
They will then leak exactly as you describe, erratically.
The way to test them is to open them up, just get some strong pliers and squeeze the two ears together like you are going to release the clamp.
The culprit will not provide any spring pressure back to your hand.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
It will be very obvious.