Heater Leaking Antifreeze
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Joined: Oct 2010
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Heater Leaking Antifreeze
The hose beneath the heater on the passenger side is leaking on a 78 F100 I just bought. Whenever I drive it for a little while, I notice when I park it will leak antifreeze from the hose underneath the heater on the passenger side. It is not a lot but it makes a small puddle. I also noticed it smokes from the vents time to time when I drive it for awhile.
This is my first truck and a daily driver so Im trying to find a solution asap. Hopefully one that doesn't require buying a new heater.
This is my first truck and a daily driver so Im trying to find a solution asap. Hopefully one that doesn't require buying a new heater.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,159
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From: Suburbs of Chicago
can you physically see the hose leaking at the firewall? If so, alls you may have to do is tighten/get a new hose clamp.
If you can't see where its leaking from and you have a puddle on the passenger side floorboard, its more likely than not your heater core. I actually just replaced mine today, it was a 2 hour job (I don't have A/C though)
If you can't see where its leaking from and you have a puddle on the passenger side floorboard, its more likely than not your heater core. I actually just replaced mine today, it was a 2 hour job (I don't have A/C though)
New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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can you physically see the hose leaking at the firewall? If so, alls you may have to do is tighten/get a new hose clamp.
If you can't see where its leaking from and you have a puddle on the passenger side floorboard, its more likely than not your heater core. I actually just replaced mine today, it was a 2 hour job (I don't have A/C though)
If you can't see where its leaking from and you have a puddle on the passenger side floorboard, its more likely than not your heater core. I actually just replaced mine today, it was a 2 hour job (I don't have A/C though)
New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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No real trick. I just tilted the evap core up and pulled the heater core out. On the 97+ F150 i have those down to 1 1/2 hours. You have to pull the dash back on those.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ok good, I was reading in my Haynes book about this and it makes it sound like there is a bunch to it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,107
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From: Spokane, WA
Das core est kaput!
You can always tell when we're transitioning toward winter...there's a period where we see a rash of heater core threads pop up on the board. Once the temperature dips, and guys change that temperature vane to warmer, whatever corrosion the core has been going through during the summer becomes obvious quickly.
That was one of the things I made sure to do on my build, was to put a brand spankin new core in the heater box after the paint was complete. I call it "tactical laziness"...fix something when it's easy, even if it doesn't need fixing, as it's a pain in the butt when it's an actual problem (10 degrees outside, wet carpet, fogged up windows, etc. etc. etc.)
You can always tell when we're transitioning toward winter...there's a period where we see a rash of heater core threads pop up on the board. Once the temperature dips, and guys change that temperature vane to warmer, whatever corrosion the core has been going through during the summer becomes obvious quickly.
That was one of the things I made sure to do on my build, was to put a brand spankin new core in the heater box after the paint was complete. I call it "tactical laziness"...fix something when it's easy, even if it doesn't need fixing, as it's a pain in the butt when it's an actual problem (10 degrees outside, wet carpet, fogged up windows, etc. etc. etc.)
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New User
Joined: Oct 2010
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Thanks for the advice. The leak isn't on the floorboard it leaks onto the ground. Im going to work on it this weekend. Does anyone know where I could find a explosion type diagram of the heater?
Im planning on taking it apart to see whats going on and maybe replacing the heater core. Also anyone know how the hoses connect to the heater are they welded?
Im planning on taking it apart to see whats going on and maybe replacing the heater core. Also anyone know how the hoses connect to the heater are they welded?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Inlet and outlet pipes sodered to the core just like a small radiator, hoses clamp to them.The clamps may be working loose and,or the hoses are starting to rot away. They are kinda hard to see and get to. Try a search for heater diagram.
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