mpd818
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2009
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Murfreesboro, TN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2007 XLT
Due to my harmonic balancer having a literal come apart I am now getting to replace it. I also have a few other issues, some of which I just discovered, that I am needing some help diagnosing. I figure if I am going to have to replace the balancer may as well try to take care of these other items. I will include some better pics after I get the vehicle in the garage and up on jacks and torn down to replace the balancer. Right now the Explorer is sitting dead in the driveway while I wait on parts to arrive. I consider myself pretty handy when it comes to car repair, but always like to defer to others with more knowledge when faced with something I am unsure about.
A little background on my Explorer: 2007 with the 4.0 V6 115,000 miles on it. Never had any problems with the truck other than having to replace the temp sensor a long time ago. I started a new job last year that provided me with a company car, so the Explorer mainly sits in the garage and gets driven maybe 50 miles a week (if that).
Item #1 . While looking around the engine compartment I noticed that on top of the block I have a build up of crud and liquid. Do not think it is oil as it just doesn't look like it. I suspect a coolant leak from somewhere due to the nature of the crud. I have not noticed any coolant leaks puddled on the ground. Every now and then I will catch a whiff of antifreeze after parking the vehicle in the garage. I checked all around the radiator since I know the radiators in these models suck, I have not seen anything to lead me to believe that the radiator is leaking. Based on where the crud buildup is I suspect the housing for the temp sensor. I replaced the temp sensor probably 70000-80000 miles ago and haven't had any trouble since. Have had to add coolant from time to time, the reservoir is empty right now and cannot see any antifreeze in the radiator when removing the cap and looking in. Just would like some assistance in pinpointing what the mess pictured below is and where it might be coming from.
Looking down over top of the temp sensor into the valley of the engine (yes I unplugged the sensor to better get my camera down in there).
Side of the housing where coolant may be leaking (but not sure)
Item #2- The other issue is that I have a small oil leak coming from somewhere. It is only a drop or two on the garage floor after driving the vehicle. Has not been enough for me to worry about yet but would like some ideas as to where to look for a possible oil leak. I do regularly check the dipstick and the oil level is always within the safe zone. I am including pic of the front of the engine where there appears to be some buildup, but also the back near the rear of the oil pan where there are visible drips built up.
Front of engine from underneath
Front of engine from underneath
Rear of the oil pan where you can see the drips built up. Lots of buildup on the cross member pictured as well.
A little background on my Explorer: 2007 with the 4.0 V6 115,000 miles on it. Never had any problems with the truck other than having to replace the temp sensor a long time ago. I started a new job last year that provided me with a company car, so the Explorer mainly sits in the garage and gets driven maybe 50 miles a week (if that).
Item #1 . While looking around the engine compartment I noticed that on top of the block I have a build up of crud and liquid. Do not think it is oil as it just doesn't look like it. I suspect a coolant leak from somewhere due to the nature of the crud. I have not noticed any coolant leaks puddled on the ground. Every now and then I will catch a whiff of antifreeze after parking the vehicle in the garage. I checked all around the radiator since I know the radiators in these models suck, I have not seen anything to lead me to believe that the radiator is leaking. Based on where the crud buildup is I suspect the housing for the temp sensor. I replaced the temp sensor probably 70000-80000 miles ago and haven't had any trouble since. Have had to add coolant from time to time, the reservoir is empty right now and cannot see any antifreeze in the radiator when removing the cap and looking in. Just would like some assistance in pinpointing what the mess pictured below is and where it might be coming from.
Looking down over top of the temp sensor into the valley of the engine (yes I unplugged the sensor to better get my camera down in there).
Side of the housing where coolant may be leaking (but not sure)
Item #2- The other issue is that I have a small oil leak coming from somewhere. It is only a drop or two on the garage floor after driving the vehicle. Has not been enough for me to worry about yet but would like some ideas as to where to look for a possible oil leak. I do regularly check the dipstick and the oil level is always within the safe zone. I am including pic of the front of the engine where there appears to be some buildup, but also the back near the rear of the oil pan where there are visible drips built up.
Front of engine from underneath
Front of engine from underneath
Rear of the oil pan where you can see the drips built up. Lots of buildup on the cross member pictured as well.
