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Coolant Leak
- Thread starter tmosesjr
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NavyS27
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- February 4, 2014
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1993 Ford Explorer XLT
93 XLT 4.0 Coolant leak
Sorry to bring an old post back from the dead, but I'm having a very similar issue except that it is a consistant leak. Tmosesjr, did you ever get it fully repaired and if so, what was the fix?
Here's my story...after parking one night and getting out of the vehicle I smelled coolant a heard hissing coming from the engine area. Looked under the engine and noticed a stream of coolant flowing out and large pool on the ground. After the engine cooled I topped off with water and was able to drive home.
I pressure checked the system and found that a hissing sound was coming from the thermostat housing area more on the drivers side. I've replaced the thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses, and water pump gasket. I inspected the thermo housing, heater hoses and temperature sensor, all look good. After putting everything back together today I filled with water and was going to pressure check again but water was flowing out still. Its coming from the drivers side of the engine where the screwdriver is inserted (see photos). I have no idea what else to look at other that head gasket or intake gaskets. Thanks for your help.
Sorry to bring an old post back from the dead, but I'm having a very similar issue except that it is a consistant leak. Tmosesjr, did you ever get it fully repaired and if so, what was the fix?
Here's my story...after parking one night and getting out of the vehicle I smelled coolant a heard hissing coming from the engine area. Looked under the engine and noticed a stream of coolant flowing out and large pool on the ground. After the engine cooled I topped off with water and was able to drive home.
I pressure checked the system and found that a hissing sound was coming from the thermostat housing area more on the drivers side. I've replaced the thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses, and water pump gasket. I inspected the thermo housing, heater hoses and temperature sensor, all look good. After putting everything back together today I filled with water and was going to pressure check again but water was flowing out still. Its coming from the drivers side of the engine where the screwdriver is inserted (see photos). I have no idea what else to look at other that head gasket or intake gaskets. Thanks for your help.
Ramblinwilly
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- July 19, 2013
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- Mechanicsburg, Central Pennsylvania
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- 1991 Ranger XLT
Ok, here's my standard leak check list.
Hose1: top of radiator to thermostat.
Hose2: bottom of radiator to water pump.
Hose3: this one is often overlooked. it's about a 3/4 inch diameter hose near the thermo housing/water pump.
Hose4 &5: Heater core hoses.
Freeze Out Plugs: Leaky plugs can be tough to find since they are usually buried by some other component like exhaust manifolds. They first develop pin holes and can leak fluid in places where the fluid evaporates leaving no trail.
As a last resort, you can purchase an inexpensive leak detection system which consists of a fluid that's added to the coolant that illuminates under a UV light. Kit includes everything you need. But I don't think you will need this since you can see and hear your leak. My first bet would be that 3/4 inch hose I mentioned above and next I would suspect a freeze out plug. Hope this helps.
Might be best if you repost all of this in a separate thread. Good Luck!!!
Hose1: top of radiator to thermostat.
Hose2: bottom of radiator to water pump.
Hose3: this one is often overlooked. it's about a 3/4 inch diameter hose near the thermo housing/water pump.
Hose4 &5: Heater core hoses.
Freeze Out Plugs: Leaky plugs can be tough to find since they are usually buried by some other component like exhaust manifolds. They first develop pin holes and can leak fluid in places where the fluid evaporates leaving no trail.
As a last resort, you can purchase an inexpensive leak detection system which consists of a fluid that's added to the coolant that illuminates under a UV light. Kit includes everything you need. But I don't think you will need this since you can see and hear your leak. My first bet would be that 3/4 inch hose I mentioned above and next I would suspect a freeze out plug. Hope this helps.
Might be best if you repost all of this in a separate thread. Good Luck!!!
NavyS27
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- Joined
- February 4, 2014
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1993 Ford Explorer XLT
Leak fixed!
So thanks to this forum, I was able to diagnose and fix my vehicle. THANK YOU! Sorry I wasn't able to chronicle my progress as it happened but I can post the photos now. It ended up being the lower intake gasket.
Zoomed in to show where the leak was coming from. This is the driver's side.
Zoomed out
Zoomed out further
FOUND THE PROBLEM!
Gasket off the engine
Bonus photo...teaching him early
So thanks to this forum, I was able to diagnose and fix my vehicle. THANK YOU! Sorry I wasn't able to chronicle my progress as it happened but I can post the photos now. It ended up being the lower intake gasket.
Zoomed in to show where the leak was coming from. This is the driver's side.
Zoomed out
Zoomed out further
FOUND THE PROBLEM!
Gasket off the engine
Bonus photo...teaching him early
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