Coolant & Thermostat help

[BigL619]

I need help everyone! Just yesterday, My 1999 ford explorer 4.0 SOHC has started to overheat. I added coolant today and it helped a little. As I was driving, gauge would rise and fall, but its definitely overheating. When i'm stopped, my engine is slightly rumbling and it sounds like my radiator is girggling the coolant.

I do have a leak on the passenger side of the engine and I can't quite find out where its coming from. Can anyone help me with this?

I though it might be the Thermostat, according to the guy at Autozone after buying the coolant and he said it might be that. Can anyone tell me where to find and change the Thermostat. Thanks everyone!

 

[jlsparky7]

Check out the links in my signature. Thermostat replacement is very easy and only takes a short amount of time. I have a vid on the thermostat replacement.

 

[BigL619]

Check out the links in my signature. Thermostat replacement is very easy and only takes a short amount of time. I have a vid on the thermostat replacement.

Ugh my work wont let me watch videos here. I'll have to wait till I get home to watch them. From my description, do you think it might be the thermostat? Thanks.

 

[94explorer2x4]

If it is leaking on the sde of the engine then no I would not think it is the t-stat. I it was leaking from the front or back of the motor than possibly. if it is from the pass side check the heater bypass valve that is in the heater hoses. check freeze plugs. and check the ac drain to see if coolant is coming out of their that would mean heater core. Also if you smell coolant when you turn the defog on and the windows fog up it will most likely be the heater core

Nate

 

[BigL619]

If it is leaking on the sde of the engine then no I would not think it is the t-stat. I it was leaking from the front or back of the motor than possibly. if it is from the pass side check the heater bypass valve that is in the heater hoses. check freeze plugs. and check the ac drain to see if coolant is coming out of their that would mean heater core. Also if you smell coolant when you turn the defog on and the windows fog up it will most likely be the heater core

Nate

Thanks Nate. It looks like its leaking more towards the front of the engine on the passenger side.

 

[jlsparky7]

Pictures would help a great deal.

 

[BigL619]

Pictures would help a great deal.

I'd like to take some pictures, I just don't know what to take a picture of

 

[94explorer2x4]

the sohc engine has a plastic t stat housing that will leak also be sure to check that a swll

 

[BigL619]

Check out the links in my signature. Thermostat replacement is very easy and only takes a short amount of time. I have a vid on the thermostat replacement.

I just checked out your video and it was a great How-to. How'd you end up cleaning all that rust on the t-stat housing?

 

[jlsparky7]

I just checked out your video and it was a great How-to. How'd you end up cleaning all that rust on the t-stat housing?

CLR. Some amazing stuff.

 

[BigL619]

Changedmy thermostat and it seems to have solved the problem. After flushing the radiator a few times with CLR ( thanks sparky) and added my 50/50, I did see the lower corner of the radiator start to leak a little. But after doing a test run on the freeway it stopped. No more overheating and no more leaks.

My question is the small leak on the passenger side corner of the radiator and then stop normal?

 

[Anime]

When a thermostat starts failing by not opening as much as it should, it causes much higher cooling system pressures. The increased pressure pushes the fluid out the weakest parts of any seals, since it has to go somewhere.

If you're lucky, it was just coolant leaking out of a hose connection, and the clamp allowed some coolant by at the higher pressures. With a new thermostat working properly, no leaks means the system is working at normal pressure again and no seals were permanently damaged.

You might want to keep an eye on it for a little while and check the engine block and underside with a flashlight in the dark though, just to be sure there aren't any small leaks or other problems.

 

[jlsparky7]

Anime summed it up

Glad i could help

 

[SoNic67]

My question is the small leak on the passenger side corner of the radiator and then stop normal?

I thing that CLR dislodged some junk (rust) that was plugging an existing hole, and it start leaking. Latter, same junk came back towards the point where the coolant was leaking and plug it back. I won't trust it too much.

 

[jlsparky7]

I thing that CLR dislodged some junk (rust) that was plugging an existing hole, and it start leaking. Latter, same junk came back towards the point where the coolant was leaking and plug it back. I won't trust it too much.

Good call.

 

[corkey]

or it was just coolant that was caught in the little tray that is formed in bottom plastic piece under the rad, that protects it from debris,
i just changed my rad and coolant was still dripping after the new rad went in whereas i discovered that tray,, so i wiped it out and the leak stopped,

I would check it again in a day and see if it is still full, and maybe get it pressure tested just to make sure though,,