Coolant leak 96 5.0

[jakebooher91]

Beginner mechanic here just bought a 96 5.0 about two weeks ago and have been trying to fix it up. Didn’t do too great of a job inspecting it before I bought it. When I brought it home I realized the coolant system was extremely gunked up and was leaking down from somewhere that I can’t see. It was also running extremely cold or at least that what the gauge said which I imagine is faulty in some way, especially because I’m in Phoenix Arizona so it should be hot already just from sitting. I’m pretty knew to mechanical work with cars which is partly why I bought an older car so I could learn a little easier. Before I cleaned out the coolant system the leak was very minimal maybe 1 drip every couple minutes. However after cleaning out the system multiple times and replacing the thermostat, the leak has become much more severe, probably leaking once every couple second when it’s running and shortly after running. I’ve already checked it’s not leaking from the thermostat housing because the first time I put it back together it wasn’t sealed properly and then I had two leaks, but I redid the thermostat and now back to just one leak. Other than that it seems to run fine at least from what I see. I’m worried the combination of the coolant system being filled with some kind of dirt or gunk and also the temperature readings seeming to be off that there has been some more major damage to the motor but I really have no idea. Would appreciate any insight and if you guys have any questions I’ll try my best to answer them.

 

[410Fortune]

Timing cover leaks are my guess! Nice score 96 5.0 is a tank

If your fan clutch is worn out the fan will spin all the time and the truck does not get a chance to warm up

I would plan a timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump
And cooling system
Flush

 

[jakebooher91]

Timing cover leaks are my guess! Nice score 96 5.0 is a tank

If your fan clutch is worn out the fan will spin all the time and the truck does not get a chance to warm up

I would plan a timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump
And cooling system
Flush

Thanks i appreciate it the response. I’ve seen people say they’ve had issues with timing cover leaks and it’s seems like from where it’s leaking that could be it from my research but like I said I’m a beginner so I don’t know too much. But yeah everything I’ve seen said they’re good vehicles and built to last so that’s why I bought it. I’ll check into all of that and see what I come up with, thank you!

 

[jakebooher91]

Timing cover leaks are my guess! Nice score 96 5.0 is a tank

If your fan clutch is worn out the fan will spin all the time and the truck does not get a chance to warm up

I would plan a timing cover, timing cover gasket, water pump
And cooling system
Flush

Also I’m pretty limited on tools and equipment right now, I have the basics though. Are these all things I’d be able to do without removing the whole engine?

 

[410Fortune]

You will need a little know how to attack a Timing cover repair on a 5.0 in the truck
You need a crank balancer puller
And you can plan on 1-4 bolts being broken off inside the engine. This design goes back to 1969 and there are a few
Bolts on the front of the engine that end up inside the water jacket, this causes corrosion and rust over time and it is very common for them to snap off when being removed. Most shops are equipped for this with a torch and some easy outs perhaps a welder…
Having a buddy and getting all the tools and parts you need ahead of time is a great idea, go prepared!
Search 5.0 timing cover and read along!!

 

[Turdle]

Check the 2 short hoses on water pump. The elbow hose could be cracked on the inside bend.

Look for the highest wet spot on front of engine and take a picture please. Use a flashlight to light up the area where timing cover meets engine,

 

[jakebooher91]

You will need a little know how to attack a Timing cover repair on a 5.0 in the truck
You need a crank balancer puller
And you can plan on 1-4 bolts being broken off inside the engine. This design goes back to 1969 and there are a few
Bolts on the front of the engine that end up inside the water jacket, this causes corrosion and rust over time and it is very common for them to snap off when being removed. Most shops are equipped for this with a torch and some easy outs perhaps a welder…
Having a buddy and getting all the tools and parts you need ahead of time is a great idea, go prepared!
Search 5.0 timing cover and read along!!

Sweet thank you so much I appreciate it, I’ll look into the process and tools ect and see if it’s something I’ll be able to do with me and my boys

 

[jakebooher91]

Check the 2 short hoses on water pump. The elbow hose could be cracked on the inside bend.

Look for the highest wet spot on front of engine and take a picture please. Use a flashlight to light up the area where timing cover meets engine,

As for what I’ve checked I can’t see any wet spots from above, I can only see any wet spots when I look from underneath. I’ll go ahead and check the hoses and grab some pictures for you if I see anything

Check the 2 short hoses on water pump. The elbow hose could be cracked on the inside bend.

Look for the highest wet spot on front of engine and take a picture please. Use a flashlight to light up the area where timing cover meets engine,

Here’s the highest spot I can see wetness from beneath. I just can’t seem to get an eye on it from any other angle besides from under the vehicle.

 

[410Fortune]

Interesting
That is on the engine mounting plate
Likely dripping down from above

Try Looking at the engine from the side, through the wheel well above the tire
You may have to remove a rubber flap to see in there. It
Could be a heater bypass hose, it could be a freeze plug or it could be the timing cover or lower intake

Follow wetness to highest spot
Can clean engine then use baby powder to help spot the leaks

 

[jakebooher91]

Interesting
That is on the engine mounting plate
Likely dripping down from above

Try Looking at the engine from the side, through the wheel well above the tire
You may have to remove a rubber flap to see in there. It
Could be a heater bypass hose, it could be a freeze plug or it could be the timing cover or lower intake

Follow wetness to highest spot
Can clean engine then use baby powder to help spot the leaks

Okay will definitely do that, I removed a smaller flap in the wheel well and didn’t see anything, may have to remove the whole panel and check it out. Because I’ve looked from every angle I can think of and just can’t see any wetness above that mounting plate anywhere. Gonna get a buddy and have one of us locate it underneath then try to shine a light up at it so we can see the general area from above

 

[Turdle]

Which side does it seem to come from? Driver or passenger?

 

[jakebooher91]

Which side does it seem to come from? Driver or passenger?

Driver side

 

[Turdle]

Look closely at the lower radiator hose, to water pump.

Is it one piece hose from radiator to water pump, or, is there an oil cooler in line, with a short 3" hose on lower water pump inlet?

There are 2 versions, need to know what you have.

 

[410Fortune]

Good catch!! 96 for sure had a cooler when it
Left factory

 

[jakebooher91]

Look closely at the lower radiator hose, to water pump.

Is it one piece hose from radiator to water pump, or, is there an oil cooler in line, with a short 3" hose on lower water pump inlet?

There are 2 versions, need to know what you have.

From what I’m understanding it seems to be a 3 inch house going in to the water pump. I believe the hose in the picture is what you describing

 

[Turdle]

That short hose goes into a water to oil cooler. Coolant circulates thru it to cool the oil.

A longer hose goes from it to radiator.

Check the cooler over well. It's probably leaking.

If so, you'll need to find a non cooler oil filter adapter, and, replace all those hoses. They don't look very new.
The oil filter adapter is v8 explorer specific, might find one on eBay.

New lower hose will be one w/o oil cooler. It's longer

You want that oil cooler gone anyway. That short 3" hose requires water pump removal to replace it.

 

[jakebooher91]

That short hose goes into a water to oil cooler. Coolant circulates thru it to cool the oil.

A longer hose goes from it to radiator.

Check the cooler over well. It's probably leaking.

If so, you'll need to find a non cooler oil filter adapter, and, replace all those hoses. They don't look very new.
The oil filter adapter is v8 explorer specific, might find one on eBay.

New lower hose will be one w/o oil cooler. It's longer

You want that oil cooler gone anyway. That short 3" hose requires water pump removal to replace it.

Okay I’m checking it out now, not seeing anything yet. I think to get a better look at it I’m probably going to need to remove some things, hard to really get a good eye on it

 

[jakebooher91]

That short hose goes into a water to oil cooler. Coolant circulates thru it to cool the oil.

A longer hose goes from it to radiator.

Check the cooler over well. It's probably leaking.

If so, you'll need to find a non cooler oil filter adapter, and, replace all those hoses. They don't look very new.
The oil filter adapter is v8 explorer specific, might find one on eBay.

New lower hose will be one w/o oil cooler. It's longer

You want that oil cooler gone anyway. That short 3" hose requires water pump removal to replace it.

Okay so I ended up taking of the drivers side wheel well panel and I found it. I really don’t know what I’m even looking at it looks like it’s leaking from the block somehow but I can’t really tell what I’m looking at and like I said I’m not too knowledgeable. Attached are the pictures of what I’ve seen and the leak is circled

 

[jakebooher91]

Okay so I ended up taking of the drivers side wheel well panel and I found it. I really don’t know what I’m even looking at it looks like it’s leaking from the block somehow but I can’t really tell what I’m looking at and like I said I’m not too knowledgeable. Attached are the pictures of what I’ve seen and the leak is circled

View attachment 456110

View attachment 456111

Cleaned it up a little more so you can get a better look at it, but it was dripping from right here

 

[Turdle]

That is a freeze plug , and, they do leak.

Getting it out, and, another back in is going to be a challenge. It comes out like a very tight paint can lid.