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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / July 2006

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Loosing radiator fluid

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SleepyOne - 28 Jun 2006 02:55 GMT
2001 Ranger Edge I took it to the Ford dealer; they did a pressure test,
looked at the plugs and oil and could find no leak that would pass radiator
fluid. But it still drinks about a cup of fluid a day! I see no leaks on the
ground or around freeze plugs, hoses etc...

This is a 3.0L V6 and I noticed there are two black hoses that go from the
heater hoses to the top of the intake manifold. I looked in my maintenance
book but cannot identify them. I suspect it is some kind of vacuum control
for the heater. If the valve has an internal leak it could suck radiator
fluid.

Has anyone seen this? Know what the vacuum hoses are for?

Any help appreciated

Dave
Rob R. - 06 Jul 2006 02:42 GMT
My 95 F150 I6 has been doing the same thing for about 3 years now. No
problems anywhere, it just disappears.
I will be following this one to see what anyone else has to say.

> 2001 Ranger Edge I took it to the Ford dealer; they did a pressure test,
> looked at the plugs and oil and could find no leak that would pass
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Dave
hopeful - 06 Jul 2006 13:48 GMT
> My 95 F150 I6 has been doing the same thing for about 3 years now. No
> problems anywhere, it just disappears.
> I will be following this one to see what anyone else has to say.

My 1994 F150 was doing the same thing and I finally tracked it down.  The
radiator was leaking between the plastic tank and the core.  Now this is the
truth, when cranked up it would drip until it got hot and expanded and
stopped the drip.   I noticed a bit of antifreeze collecting on the frame
crossbrace under the radiator but never could find evidence of a leak
anywhere ont he radiator.  It was winter when I found it, very cold day and
I noticed a drip by the petcock drain when I started it.  Damn thing quit by
the time I got to the shop.   After sitting overnight they pressure checked
and found it.  Had to replace radiator at 75000, yep I do not drive that
much anymore.
fordtech - 07 Jul 2006 01:39 GMT
just so you know there is no way for the heater water valve to suck coolant.
the vacuum motor is mounted to the valve by a bracket and the motor moves the
valve shaft by linkage. I would check the fluid but not add any for a while
to see if it's real losing or just levelchanges due to anbient temperature
changes. but then what do I know.

>2001 Ranger Edge I took it to the Ford dealer; they did a pressure test,
>looked at the plugs and oil and could find no leak that would pass radiator
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
>Dave
SleepyOne - 07 Jul 2006 03:21 GMT
This is an update -
The two hoses on the top of the intake manifold carry radiator fluid and
seem to be heaters like the old heat riser that helps it run better in the
winter - just a guess here.

Figuring that may be the source I blocked them and all of a sudden the fluid
loss greatly reduced! So I figure the leak is in the intake manifold gasket
or a cracked manifold.
I looked at replacing the gasket but did not feel like doing that job just
now. I decided to try one of the leak stop concoctions and picked Prestone
super Radiator stop leak. Low and behold at least for now the leak is fixed!
Lets hope it holds for a long while and does not stop up the radiator!

> 2001 Ranger Edge I took it to the Ford dealer; they did a pressure test,
> looked at the plugs and oil and could find no leak that would pass
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Dave
Matt Macchiarolo - 11 Jul 2006 00:29 GMT
> This is an update -
> The two hoses on the top of the intake manifold carry radiator fluid and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> fluid loss greatly reduced! So I figure the leak is in the intake manifold
> gasket or a cracked manifold.

Are those the hoses to the heater core? Where do they go from the engine, to
the firewall?

> I looked at replacing the gasket but did not feel like doing that job just
> now. I decided to try one of the leak stop concoctions and picked Prestone
> super Radiator stop leak. Low and behold at least for now the leak is
> fixed!

> Lets hope it holds for a long while and does not stop up the radiator!

Don't hold your breath on that. If not the radiator then the coolant
passages in the block. You just made whatever proper repair would fix it
into a twice as hard job.
SleepyOne - 12 Jul 2006 02:37 GMT
See below:

>> This is an update -
>> The two hoses on the top of the intake manifold carry radiator fluid and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Are those the hoses to the heater core? Where do they go from the engine,
> to the firewall?
The two hoses are tapped into the heater hoses with a big plastic tee.

>> I looked at replacing the gasket but did not feel like doing that job
>> just now. I decided to try one of the leak stop concoctions and picked
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> passages in the block. You just made whatever proper repair would fix it
> into a twice as hard job.
The new stuff is not like the old barts which did stop up the radiator.
We shall see as I plan to drive it a long time.
 
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