Help Identifing Cooling System Leak

[BootyDo]

Hello,

I have a 4.6 V8 that's been losing coolant pretty consistently for the past few years. I've thrown in some Bar's Leak over that time and had decent success. But i'm finally at the point of having to fill the overflow reservoir about twice a week. Thing is, i can't find the actual leak. There's a very consistent drip/wet spot under the truck to the passenger side of the front grill. But I can't verify it's the actual radiator and not something else.

Is there a way I can safely pressurize the system to find the leak or would it even be advisable to just hook up a garden hose and flush the system?

 

[swshawaii]

Most larger auto parts stores have cooling system pressure test kits for loan with a 100% refundable deposit. Call around.

 

[seth21]

Have you checked the thermostat housing? This is that plastic housing in the front center of the engine that leaks for a bunch of people. Mine leaked for a few weeks and I didn't even realize it because it was leaking onto the engine block and then burning off before it would drip on the ground.

Try to look at the housing and shine a light in the 'V' of the engine and you could have some coolant collecting there.

 

[swshawaii]

^ 4.6 V8, not 4.0 SOHC. COMPLETELY different metal design with few failures.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...r+outlet,10337?a=Referer+www.google.com+URL+/

 

[BootyDo]

Thank you all the input! I didn't know they'd do a full loaner on that tool. I've even been thinking of just buying one from Harbor Freight, but once I break the $50 price point for something I might not use again and/or pinpoint everything, I hesitate.

Btw, i've been poking around today and no luck finding anything when the engine is cool. BUT, I did notice the consistent leak spot, for lack of a better term, might have less to do with the actual source of the leak as much as a side effect of the design, e.g. the coolant collects onto a piece of the shroud and falls to the lowest part before falling to the ground. When looking at the car, it's almost 3 inches to the right from the overflow reservoir lid.

 

[BootyDo]

Hi All,

Might not be able to get a pressure test until next weekend, but decided to get under the truck to see if I could get a better look of things. I can't tell where the actual leak is coming from, but it's definitely focused around the bottom hose connection:
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

The photos are me under the driver's side of the radiator looking towards the passenger side. It almost looks like there's a bit of run on that hose that starts higher up. I'm not familiar with our radiator, but is there a shroud that's potentially masking something? I'm wondering if that little collection by the hose is more effect than cause...?