I recently replaced the motor in my '04 Sport Trac with one from a 2010 Mustang with 19k miles. Swap went well and didn't even throw a code. Here's the problem.
I'm pretty sure the old motor fell victim to a bad radiator cap and/or leaking thermostat housing. I reused the lower housing from the Mustang and put the Explorer top housing (water neck) on because it points in a different direction. On my first drive the upper radiator hose got sucked closed and it overheated (very briefly). I replaced the radiator cap and it cools fine now but is losing water fairly quickly. I can see the rusty water stain on the t-stat housing and down the water pump and block on the passenger side.
Here's the wierd part... I NEVER see any coolant. I can't get it to leak in the driveway at all. FYI, there's no indication of head gasket leak or anything like that. Oil and radiator are clean and no smell to the exhaust.
Anyone seen this before? No visible water, just stains from where it was?
Thanks,
Richard
I'm pretty sure the old motor fell victim to a bad radiator cap and/or leaking thermostat housing. I reused the lower housing from the Mustang and put the Explorer top housing (water neck) on because it points in a different direction. On my first drive the upper radiator hose got sucked closed and it overheated (very briefly). I replaced the radiator cap and it cools fine now but is losing water fairly quickly. I can see the rusty water stain on the t-stat housing and down the water pump and block on the passenger side.
Here's the wierd part... I NEVER see any coolant. I can't get it to leak in the driveway at all. FYI, there's no indication of head gasket leak or anything like that. Oil and radiator are clean and no smell to the exhaust.
Anyone seen this before? No visible water, just stains from where it was?
Thanks,
Richard
