roccov12345
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- January 21, 2005
- Messages
- 174
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Hopewell Junction, NY
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 98 Mountaineer
Hi all,
Here's my issue..... 1995 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 SOHC. Truck was leaking antifreeze all over the driveway so I figured I bring it into the garage for some routine maintenance while I resolved the antifreeze issue. Replaced the plugs (PITA), wires, belt tensioner (bearing was shot), new belt, air filter, oil change. After completing the listed items I took the car for a spin to make sure everything was good to go, which it was. Next onto the Antifreeze leaking issue.
Seemed like it was leaking from the bottomg of the thermostat housing. Got in there and pulled off the housing to replace the thermostat just for good terms. I tested both the new thermostat and the orignial t-stat and both of them opened up upon boiling temp in the pot. The new one opened a little quicker. Changed out the t-stat, with the proper gasket and installed with the air release valve in the 12o'clock position. Put a little RTV sealant on the T-stat housing, beautiful no leaks. Well now my temp gauge will not operate in the normal mid range like it used to. It runs around C then drops down to the below cold level. So I figured maybe the thermostat is stuck open (nope) not the case. So I check to make sure my coolant temp sender and sensor are plugged in nice and tight (all good). Now I'm kind of stumped, I sat there for about a good two hours last night in the freezing cold trying to "burp" the cooling system to make sure I had no air in there. Let it run without the rad cap on, sat the truck on an incline, repeated, same issue. The rad is full with antifreeze as well as the resorvoir. My next guess was possibly the water pump or radiator. When the truck warms up and the thermostat opens you can feel the surge in the upper radiator hose, gets pretty hot. Now the one thing I don't understand is.........the upper radiator hose gets hot as it should but I did notice that the lower rad hose stays as cool as it was when I first started the car. The driver's side of the radiator is COOL, while the passenger side is HOT. After driving for about 20 minutes I could actually put my finger into the rad neck and touch the antifreeze without burning my skin off. I guess my real question, could it possibly be the water pump even though I can feel it surging in the upper rad hose, or could I possibly have a clogged up radiator. Keep in mind that everything seemed sound before I changed the t-stat.
Any thoughts? I pre-thank anyone who posts, you guys are the best.
Here's my issue..... 1995 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.0 SOHC. Truck was leaking antifreeze all over the driveway so I figured I bring it into the garage for some routine maintenance while I resolved the antifreeze issue. Replaced the plugs (PITA), wires, belt tensioner (bearing was shot), new belt, air filter, oil change. After completing the listed items I took the car for a spin to make sure everything was good to go, which it was. Next onto the Antifreeze leaking issue.
Seemed like it was leaking from the bottomg of the thermostat housing. Got in there and pulled off the housing to replace the thermostat just for good terms. I tested both the new thermostat and the orignial t-stat and both of them opened up upon boiling temp in the pot. The new one opened a little quicker. Changed out the t-stat, with the proper gasket and installed with the air release valve in the 12o'clock position. Put a little RTV sealant on the T-stat housing, beautiful no leaks. Well now my temp gauge will not operate in the normal mid range like it used to. It runs around C then drops down to the below cold level. So I figured maybe the thermostat is stuck open (nope) not the case. So I check to make sure my coolant temp sender and sensor are plugged in nice and tight (all good). Now I'm kind of stumped, I sat there for about a good two hours last night in the freezing cold trying to "burp" the cooling system to make sure I had no air in there. Let it run without the rad cap on, sat the truck on an incline, repeated, same issue. The rad is full with antifreeze as well as the resorvoir. My next guess was possibly the water pump or radiator. When the truck warms up and the thermostat opens you can feel the surge in the upper radiator hose, gets pretty hot. Now the one thing I don't understand is.........the upper radiator hose gets hot as it should but I did notice that the lower rad hose stays as cool as it was when I first started the car. The driver's side of the radiator is COOL, while the passenger side is HOT. After driving for about 20 minutes I could actually put my finger into the rad neck and touch the antifreeze without burning my skin off. I guess my real question, could it possibly be the water pump even though I can feel it surging in the upper rad hose, or could I possibly have a clogged up radiator. Keep in mind that everything seemed sound before I changed the t-stat.
Any thoughts? I pre-thank anyone who posts, you guys are the best.