lobo411
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- September 14, 2011
- Messages
- 925
- Reaction score
- 61
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1996 Explorer 4.0 OHV
Hi all,
I have a 1996 explorer XLT w/ 4.0. I've experienced mysterious signs of leaking for several years (puddles of coolant on top of the lower intake manifold, dripping coolant from the heater valve, even drops of coolant on the ignition coils). I finally tracked the leaks down to three sources: the front timing cover gasket (replaced, fixed), the heater hose on the radiator side of the heater valve (as opposed to the heater core side of the valve, which has never leaked...just put in a new hose and hope that fixes it), and the upper radiator hose where it meets the thermostat housing.
The upper radiator to thermostat housing is the problem hose. It has always leaked--that's where the puddles came from, and the coolant on the ignition coils (fan blew the coolant droplets onto the coil pack).
I put in a new upper radiator hose last year, and while I was at it I painted the rusty thermostat housing with rustoleum barbeque paint (believe it or not, I repainted the rusty tail pipe with this stuff 10 years ago and it still looks like it hasn't aged a day). That fixed the upper radiator hose leak. Then I removed the hose to replace the valve cover gaskets, and now it's leaking again. I'm guessing the paint may have helped it to seal originally.
Now, is this hose connection area a constant headache for anyone else? The same hose connects at the radiator and has never leaked a drop. Also, what to do about it? When I got home just now and popped the hood, I saw a pretty good trickle of water streaming down the thermostat housing, down the water pump, and to the ground. I touched the hose and it immediately spurted coolant, so I grabbed an 8mm socket on a 1/4" ratchet and tightened the hell out of it. All hoses use made in USA worm drive clamps.
I figure I'll see if that works, but if not, should I put on a second hose clamp? Am I putting the hose clamp in the wrong place (I have it occupying the 5/8" closest to the edge of the hose. Should I move it back some?)? Should I RTV the dang thing in?
I have a 1996 explorer XLT w/ 4.0. I've experienced mysterious signs of leaking for several years (puddles of coolant on top of the lower intake manifold, dripping coolant from the heater valve, even drops of coolant on the ignition coils). I finally tracked the leaks down to three sources: the front timing cover gasket (replaced, fixed), the heater hose on the radiator side of the heater valve (as opposed to the heater core side of the valve, which has never leaked...just put in a new hose and hope that fixes it), and the upper radiator hose where it meets the thermostat housing.
The upper radiator to thermostat housing is the problem hose. It has always leaked--that's where the puddles came from, and the coolant on the ignition coils (fan blew the coolant droplets onto the coil pack).
I put in a new upper radiator hose last year, and while I was at it I painted the rusty thermostat housing with rustoleum barbeque paint (believe it or not, I repainted the rusty tail pipe with this stuff 10 years ago and it still looks like it hasn't aged a day). That fixed the upper radiator hose leak. Then I removed the hose to replace the valve cover gaskets, and now it's leaking again. I'm guessing the paint may have helped it to seal originally.
Now, is this hose connection area a constant headache for anyone else? The same hose connects at the radiator and has never leaked a drop. Also, what to do about it? When I got home just now and popped the hood, I saw a pretty good trickle of water streaming down the thermostat housing, down the water pump, and to the ground. I touched the hose and it immediately spurted coolant, so I grabbed an 8mm socket on a 1/4" ratchet and tightened the hell out of it. All hoses use made in USA worm drive clamps.
I figure I'll see if that works, but if not, should I put on a second hose clamp? Am I putting the hose clamp in the wrong place (I have it occupying the 5/8" closest to the edge of the hose. Should I move it back some?)? Should I RTV the dang thing in?