2003 f150 radiator clamps slipping off
 

2003 f150 radiator clamps slipping off

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About 2000 miles back my factory squeeze type upper radiator clamp slipped off and dumped all my coolant. I wasn't towing anything, just driving down surface streets on a cool day. I replaced the hose, clamps and thermostat. Today the lower radiator hose blew off and dumped coolant after I had taken a 200 miles trip. Luckily it was in my driveway when it blew off. I don't like the factory squeeze on clamps, but I had never heard of anything like this before finding this forum. I wonder if there is a problem with too much coolant pressure or too weak of a clamp. Has Ford got a problem that they haven't told us about. Maybe we need to investigate this further if so many people are having the same problem. Lucky for me, I was close to home both times and was able to put a bandaid on it to get it to the shop. Oh yeah, my truck has the V-6 engine and runs great other than this hose clamp issue.

Moved to 2003 F150 forum

i have never heard of this as a common problme..

My thoughts about this is is there excess system pressure being built up from an overheat issue, or a head gasket failure allowing a cylinder to pump pressure into the cooling jacket?
When replacing a hose, do not use any liquid sealent if that was done.
I would have the coolant tested for exhaust gas to rule it out as a cause.
Do be awhere that just after you shut down the motor, the cooling system pressure will rise due to no circulation to take heat to the radiator for a few minutes then resedes.
Often an old hard hose will split from this if left on the motor to many years without checking their ply-ability by hand.
A hose that 'balloons' is just as bad and may indicate an issue.
Good luck.

Not a common issue for sure. It does sound like excessive pressure in the system.

Those clamps are designed to be self tightening. Sounds like a pressure buildup. Possibly even a bad clamp. Do the plastic tanks show any signs of bulging?