Dreaded coolant leak, AGAIN
11-04-2013, 09:22 AM
#11
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Acworth,Ga.
Posts: 812
Is there a By-Pass line from the Water Pump in the V area? Since we have different engines and platforms, I'm not sure if Ford ran them the same way. You'll get it fixed. it's just the aggravation that makes it a pain to deal with.
11-04-2013, 09:38 AM
#12
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 3,666
Thanks!
11-04-2013, 02:31 PM
#13
6th Gear Member
There was a thread yesterday in the 4.0 section for an attempt at a group buy of the aluminum t-stat housing. If that pans out, I'm picking one up just in case, for the wifes Pony.
Here it is: https://mustangforums.com/forum/4-0l...ml#post8304797
Here it is: https://mustangforums.com/forum/4-0l...ml#post8304797
11-05-2013, 10:42 AM
#14
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 3,666
There was a thread yesterday in the 4.0 section for an attempt at a group buy of the aluminum t-stat housing. If that pans out, I'm picking one up just in case, for the wifes Pony.
Here it is: https://mustangforums.com/forum/4-0l...ml#post8304797
Here it is: https://mustangforums.com/forum/4-0l...ml#post8304797
11-05-2013, 10:52 AM
#15
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: RI
Posts: 690
I have a mysterious little leak too, but no drips anywhere. Can smell the coolant after a long drive and every once in a while at a stop light there will be a wisp of steam. I have checked everything, hoses, etc. and they are good. Holds pressure too. Going to take the fan out and check the radiator for a micro-pinhole somewhere, only thing I can think of, left to do. Anybody ever epoxy an aluminum radiator before?
11-05-2013, 11:05 AM
#16
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 3,666
I have a mysterious little leak too, but no drips anywhere. Can smell the coolant after a long drive and every once in a while at a stop light there will be a wisp of steam. I have checked everything, hoses, etc. and they are good. Holds pressure too. Going to take the fan out and check the radiator for a micro-pinhole somewhere, only thing I can think of, left to do. Anybody ever epoxy an aluminum radiator before?
Have you checked for coolant behind and below the thermostat housing in the "V" section of the engine?
Once the "V" section gets filled up, it starts slowly dripping onto the ground.
You will need a bright flashlight to get a good look past the housing.
My new thermostat housing/hoses are bone DRY!
Last edited by kevinmalec; 11-06-2013 at 08:02 AM.
11-05-2013, 02:01 PM
#17
Gentleman's Relish
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: AZ
Posts: 13,090
Had a similar experience with my now daughters Escape. Before we gave it to her one of the things I replaced was the radiator because it was starting to leak between the tanks and cooling rows (plastic tanks and aluminum cooling rows :-/ ) I figured I would do the hoses as well.
There were no other leaks in the cooling system before hand. After about a week she said it smelled very musty when she drove it and had the vents on. When I checked things out, the overflow tank was about 1/4 lower than what I left it at. I checked everything out and couldn't find the leak.
Long story shorty, I finally found it when I took the car out, brought it to temp, then checked on it about 10 minutes after I parked it. It was only during the cooling down period that it leaked (different materials cool at different temps so they contract at different speeds). Anyways, turned out one of the OEM spring style clamps was not applying sufficient pressure. I removed it and put on a worm style clamp. Problem solved.
There were no other leaks in the cooling system before hand. After about a week she said it smelled very musty when she drove it and had the vents on. When I checked things out, the overflow tank was about 1/4 lower than what I left it at. I checked everything out and couldn't find the leak.
Long story shorty, I finally found it when I took the car out, brought it to temp, then checked on it about 10 minutes after I parked it. It was only during the cooling down period that it leaked (different materials cool at different temps so they contract at different speeds). Anyways, turned out one of the OEM spring style clamps was not applying sufficient pressure. I removed it and put on a worm style clamp. Problem solved.
11-05-2013, 03:09 PM
#18
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 3,666
Had a similar experience with my now daughters Escape. Before we gave it to her one of the things I replaced was the radiator because it was starting to leak between the tanks and cooling rows (plastic tanks and aluminum cooling rows :-/ ) I figured I would do the hoses as well.
There were no other leaks in the cooling system before hand. After about a week she said it smelled very musty when she drove it and had the vents on. When I checked things out, the overflow tank was about 1/4 lower than what I left it at. I checked everything out and couldn't find the leak.
Long story shorty, I finally found it when I took the car out, brought it to temp, then checked on it about 10 minutes after I parked it. It was only during the cooling down period that it leaked (different materials cool at different temps so they contract at different speeds). Anyways, turned out one of the OEM spring style clamps was not applying sufficient pressure. I removed it and put on a worm style clamp. Problem solved.
There were no other leaks in the cooling system before hand. After about a week she said it smelled very musty when she drove it and had the vents on. When I checked things out, the overflow tank was about 1/4 lower than what I left it at. I checked everything out and couldn't find the leak.
Long story shorty, I finally found it when I took the car out, brought it to temp, then checked on it about 10 minutes after I parked it. It was only during the cooling down period that it leaked (different materials cool at different temps so they contract at different speeds). Anyways, turned out one of the OEM spring style clamps was not applying sufficient pressure. I removed it and put on a worm style clamp. Problem solved.
I read you changed the OEM clamp with a worm style clamp, but where was the coolant leaking from?
Last edited by kevinmalec; 11-05-2013 at 03:26 PM.
11-05-2013, 09:15 PM
#20
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,486