HELP! Coolant in spark plug well.

[CONALPATRICK]

Check engine light is on so I figured I'd give my wife's Explorer a tune up and go through the items that could be causing the CEL issues. I removed the plug from cyl. #6 and the plug well was filled with coolant. Cyl 5 was okay. I haven't checked the others. The thermostat housing looks like it has been leaking but without tearing the engine down further I was hoping someone could give me the other issues that might cause the plug well to fill with coolant. Head gasket? The vehicle is a Limited with the 4.6L V8. About 87,000 mi.

 

[thepotroast]

Check engine light is on so I figured I'd give my wife's Explorer a tune up and go through the items that could be causing the CEL issues. I removed the plug from cyl. #6 and the plug well was filled with coolant. Cyl 5 was okay. I haven't checked the others. The thermostat housing looks like it has been leaking but without tearing the engine down further I was hoping someone could give me the other issues that might cause the plug well to fill with coolant. Head gasket? The vehicle is a Limited with the 4.6L V8. About 87,000 mi.

Water pump or head gasket leak would be my guess....the water pump pushes coolant through the block, at the head....if there's coolant there, to me that could indicate a leak possibly with either component...the water pump being the cheaper of the 2 to repair/replace.

 

[zukman]

does the truck have rear air?? My Expedition just went through this you have a leak in the water hose right above #6 fix the hose and your good..
Word of warning the job is a major pain in the (u know)

 

[KC10Chief]

I just bought my Explorer and am not too familiar with the engine yet, but I had the same problem on a Chevy truck of mine. How is the engine running? Does it run bad? My problem was a cracked cylinder head. It leaked right into the cylinder well. Look closely. Crank it up, rev it up and look for anything leaking.