Coolant in my air filter

[ErockSteady]

Hey all,

I have a '93 XLT. I went to check the status of my air filter last night, and noticed that a small part of it was discolored yellow/green, and smelled like antifreeze. Where could this be coming from? My guess is the throttle body gasket (I don't know the technical name for which one I'm thinking of). Anyone else have this experience? Any other ideas? There is also a small drip or two of fresh coolant I've started to notice underneath the rig. Could be water pump for that, but I doubt that would be the same reason I see it in the air intake box, unless it's being slung up in there somehow...

 

[Themightyquinn]

which side of the filter is the coolant mostly on? there is no way for coolant to back flow through the intake. ur truck must have sucked some up somehow. as for the drops of coolant, maybe just a leaking hose. have you noticed any loss of coolant in the recovery reservoir?

 

[ErockSteady]

which side of the filter is the coolant mostly on? ... have you noticed any loss of coolant in the recovery reservoir?

It's on the exit side, i.e. closest to the front of the truck. The reservoir is dry, and has been since I've bought the truck a couple weeks ago. I should probably put some in there...

 

[Maniak]

So the coolant is on the "filtered air" side of the filter and towards the front of the filter...

There is no coolant in the throttle body on a 91-94 explorer. There are only air passages there. Also, if it someone came from there it would be inside the air tube between the TB and the filter.

My guess is it came from outside of the filter housing. Either someone spilled a bunch of anti freeze while filling the vehicle OR there is an coolant leak throwing coolant onto the filter housing.

The filter housing should be sealed (thanks to the filter) so coolant shouldn't be able t get in there but IIRC there are 2 pieces of the filter that are exposed so maybe it got in there that way..

Otherwise the only thing I can think of is that some coolant ended up inside the housing when the filter was last changed due to spillage or wet hands etc.

~Mark

 

[ErockSteady]

So the coolant is on the "filtered air" side of the filter and towards the front of the filter...

There is no coolant in the throttle body on a 91-94 explorer.

I didn't know that. What vehicle am I thinking of (I just got this 93 and haven't really inspected it all that much)? I used to have a '96--did those have coolant in the TB?

Your suggestions make sense. Thanks! I'll monitor it and see if I find any more coolant getting up there somehow...

 

[Maniak]

Some other fords like a 1988 f-150 have coolant in the TB.

In general it seems like they did the pre-heating of the intake charge in the earlier days of FI and between carbs and intakes during the elision technology crunch.

I don't remember if any of the SOHC explorers have it but I know the very late 4.0 sohc doesn't (well 2006 mustang doesn't)

~Mark.

 

[ErockSteady]

Thanks for the info. I must be thinking of the 5.0 then on my '90 Crown Vic. Probably the same engine in the 88 F150 that you're thinking of.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Fill up the reservoir, change out the filter if you like and see how it goes. I could kind of see someone doing maintenance, had the filter box open, and spilled a bit of coolant. I suppose if I had the time on my hands, I'd clean the MAF, in case some coolant or vapors thereof made it through. Probably not, but nothing wrong with looking at the MAF, I do it every oil change.