SugarHigh
New Member
- Joined
- January 16, 2010
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Mesa, AZ
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2003 XLT 4.0
So I screwed up my 2003 4.0.
I added some coolant in the tank and fogot to put the cap back on. There is no radiator cap on this model, just screw on cap on the overflow tank. I drove to work, and then back home, about 25 miles. I get off the Freeway and the temp is pegged. No warning light. Steam from the hood, in the vents and a knocking sound at idle. I get it home about 2 miles away.
No coolant in the oil and the exhaust is clean. I fill it up with some coolant and replace the cap. I had split the thermostat housing and it was dumping a lot of water.
I degreased the engine. Then I replaced the part and it is not leaking from there any more. I put the thermostat in the same way, spring towards the engine.
I top off coolant and take for a test drive. It was rough to start. Felt like a misfire on a cylinder during idle and at start. It went away pretty quick though. The temp gauge spiked real hot, then mellowed out. Coolant is leaking around the overflow tank. A lot of it. It does look to be coming from the cap, else where too. I noticed a slight whistling sound while driving. Like steam is slowly escaping somewhere. The tank level got low.
The coolant seemed to leak mainly on the passenger side. some by the bumper and some toward the rear of the engine/suspension.
I drove again today to pick up my daughter a few miles away. I did not top off the coolant. It started rough again and even stalled. It started after a little extra cranking. By the time I get back home, the temp is pegged. I hear a gurgling/boiling sound. The overflow tank is completely full and bubbling. So it seems the cooling system is backed up or creating some weird pressure?
So any advice on what is going on and how to fix it? Or am I off to the repair shop?
I added some coolant in the tank and fogot to put the cap back on. There is no radiator cap on this model, just screw on cap on the overflow tank. I drove to work, and then back home, about 25 miles. I get off the Freeway and the temp is pegged. No warning light. Steam from the hood, in the vents and a knocking sound at idle. I get it home about 2 miles away.
No coolant in the oil and the exhaust is clean. I fill it up with some coolant and replace the cap. I had split the thermostat housing and it was dumping a lot of water.
I degreased the engine. Then I replaced the part and it is not leaking from there any more. I put the thermostat in the same way, spring towards the engine.
I top off coolant and take for a test drive. It was rough to start. Felt like a misfire on a cylinder during idle and at start. It went away pretty quick though. The temp gauge spiked real hot, then mellowed out. Coolant is leaking around the overflow tank. A lot of it. It does look to be coming from the cap, else where too. I noticed a slight whistling sound while driving. Like steam is slowly escaping somewhere. The tank level got low.
The coolant seemed to leak mainly on the passenger side. some by the bumper and some toward the rear of the engine/suspension.
I drove again today to pick up my daughter a few miles away. I did not top off the coolant. It started rough again and even stalled. It started after a little extra cranking. By the time I get back home, the temp is pegged. I hear a gurgling/boiling sound. The overflow tank is completely full and bubbling. So it seems the cooling system is backed up or creating some weird pressure?
So any advice on what is going on and how to fix it? Or am I off to the repair shop?
