2000 Explorer SOCH V6. Antifreeze Smell (Kinda smells like Vomit)

[travlincub321]

I picked up a 2000 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOCH V6 for cheap (i was able to trade out of the Mercury Sable from hell that the dealer i got it from put a used 170K engine in it) from a dealer in Southern Oregon

Its a clean rig, was towed behind a trailer/motor home and drives nice..

Has a few lights out, the PRNDL thing is off kilter... Little stuff


EXCEPt IT SMELLS LIKE ANTIFREEZE in the Left FRONT corner. I see no leaks but I do see an empty Overflow bottle..

How common are thermostat and thermostat housings to go bad?

I am afraid im gonna be looking at replacing a head gasket or something massive I can't afford right now

How common are head gaskets to blow on the 4.0 SOCh? How about failed intake gaskets???

I have read several splaces that its possible the thermostat housing or heather core..

Its smells very wierd and its mostly anti freeze with a bit of oil mixed in.. Wierd and naseuating smell

Thanks!

 

[2000StreetRod]

leaking thermostat housing

By "Left FRONT corner" I assume that you mean the passenger side, rear of the engine compartment. It is fairly common for the SOHC V6 lower thermostat housing to leak. The leaking coolant flows aft in the valley between the heads and drips down the rear of the block.

It is also fairly common for the heater core to leak but I think coolant is usually found inside the vehicle on the passenger side.

The head gaskets on the SOHC V6 will sometimes fail but not as often as on the OHV V6.

There is no coolant in the upper or lower intake manifolds.

 

[travlincub321]

Thanks... Its on the passanger side of the truck.. I smell it.. I just don't see it. Its very awful smelling

Curious.. would a slight whistle and very slight rough idle mean anything?

(I know the SOCH always sounds like it has a vacuum leak and I know Fords like PCV valves and IAC valves, so i doubt there related)

 

[swshawaii]

http://bengrosser.com/howto/fordthermostat/

 

[travlincub321]

I see its leaking down the back on the passanger side near the firewall kinda.. I filled up the resivor and topped off my radiator and started the engine and noticed a nice puddle there

Have a pic, cant see a way to post it

 

[travlincub321]

Its all fixed! Thanks