Not overheating but is just steaming. . need help!?

[chaz974x4]

I have been driving my 1997 x sport for a while just back and fourth to work (5 mile round trip) and one morning i started smelling antifreeze. I looked under the hood and could not find were it was coming from. I checked the fluid and it was ok. Next night, i was driving to work and it started steaming from under the hood at the stop light. When i got home the next morning, i found antifreeze puddled under the throttle and cables. I have a v6 vortec motor. I am a do it my self type of person and was wondering if anybody could guide me in the right direction to find were the leak is. I know that there is 2 heater hoses to the left of the throttle and cables but were it is steaming at is somewhere under the throttle and throttle cables very close to the firewall. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

 

[Turdle]

Who put a Chevy engine in your explorer?

 

[chaz974x4]

thats what is in it . . .a vortec v6 lol

 

[sport97]

Vortec is the GM motor, my parents have a Bravada with a vortec in it. You have a 4.0 v6, and its either the OHV, or the SOHC.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I would check for a cracked plastic housing on the radiator. They like to separate there... Look for dried coolant residue on the black plastic housing on the sides, and also check the hoses if they haven't been replaced. Doesn't take much to spring a leak at that age for an Ex.

 

[gijoecam]

thats what is in it . . .a vortec v6 lol

Umm, not if it's the stock motor. Ford never put Chevy motors in the Explorer. Sorry.

 

[adivorcedsin]

I'm having the exact same problem with mine, same spot, but I have the OHV engine in my 95 Sport. The leak is coming almost directly from the firewall below the throttle cables and i cant pinpoint the leak. Im really stuck. Also there is a hose that is hanging down with a plastic male end that looks like it has no opening on it. I don't know if it is leaking where the hose was connected to, but ill post some pics asap. I NEED SOME HELP PLS!!!

 

[adivorcedsin]

ok, this is what the hanging hose end looks like...





The circled area is where the steam is coming from

 

[gijoecam]

The hose is an axle breather tube. It should connect to the front axle to a hose barb on the passenger side of the differential on the axle tube itself. As for the steaming, can't help there.... My x-ray vision is only showing me the back of my monitor. Something wet is obviously dripping on something hot behind the motor. Could be a lot of stuff.