Please Help! Coolant shooting from top of engine

[BootyDo]

Hi All,

I just got home from work and picked up some groceries. Parked and thankfully went back to the truck only to see if smoking after shutting it off. I opened the hood and there's coolant spraying from the top of the thermostat. I tried to immediately grab a video but the fumes were terrible. The sun was in my eyes so I couldn't see well but luckily the phone picked up more than i thought.



Is this just a loose connection or something waaay more serious? Engine's still hot so I haven't tinkered with anything yet.

 

[tripplec]

What engine no detail but its a common problem with some 4.0L engines where plastic is used. Its easy to spot since it right in front spraying the leak.

 

[BootyDo]

Sorry, I should have mentioned it's a 4.6L V8. And I should have mentioned - and the video didn't entirely capture this - but it was spraying almost "above" the thermostat housing. It actually appeared to be coming out of a smaller hose that I actually don't believe has anything to do with the thermostat. Wonder if this is a geyser affect from the housing that was reflecting off that hose. Unfortunately, with the sun in my face, I didn't realize another hose was obstructing the actual leak.

 

[BootyDo]

okay, I think I may have found the culprit. I added more coolant to the radiator (directly), and brought the truck up to operating temperature. With the housing being metal and not plastic, I'm leaning towards the rubber hose the hooks to the throttle. My wife tried grabbing another video. Anyone know what that coolant line that runs to the throttle/IAC valve is even called or even how to replace one? I can't figure out how to yank it off.

 

[BootyDo]

Hi All,

With the sun up and a new day, I figured I'd start looking on where to get replacement hose. I've been up since 4 and am pretty sure I found the end of the internet - still with no luck. I grabbed another photo, (not my actual car), to better show the hose I'm looking for. Does anyone know what the hose circled in red is called? Super desperate at the moment.

upload a photo on internet

 

[tripplec]

Don't know but you sure is not from the T-stat housing. Which maybe cracked. I could not tell from the video but if you can slide thin piece of card stock inbetween the housing and that hose it will contain it long enough to maybe see the source more clearly.

 

[Mountain_Dewd]

I can't view the image of the hose you added so I can't help identify it (firewall blocks too much) I'll check again when I get home. But, going to fordparts.com and entering your VIN or select make, year and model should get you to where you can pick the hose from the cooling category. There's plenty of exploded images with part call outs. Once I have the part number I usually google it to find in on the Internet or just order it from Ford. Spend some time to be sure where the leak really is. Like tripplec said, it may be the T-Stat housing.

 

[BootyDo]

Brilliant idea!!!!
Just tried it, but now here's something odd. In park, i put some cardboard between that hose and the housing. Brought it to normal temperature and waited. Nothing. Reved her up a bit. Nothing. Turn the car off to see if that's the trigger. Nope. BUT there was smoke. Maybe coming from the upper manifold but that could well be some spillage from last night. And I don't know if this is totally unrelated, but I started it again, revved like crazy and the RPMs top at 3 1/2. It's in park and I didn't want to go much higher than that anyway, but is there something terrible going on here or is that Ford linking this to the transmission somehow?

 

[tripplec]

Definitely don't want to rev too high. The engine is not under load and not good for it !!
Dry off the aluminum housing and see if any weeping comes out after a bit. Poking a paper towel in there after will pickup leaked fluid.

 

[BootyDo]

Hi All,

Just updating no luck so far I've been unable to identify if that hose above the thermostat running to the throttle is the culprit and after trying to view a lot of exploded view diagrams, am wondering if it's even a coolant line. I've been unable to replicate the issue from yesterday, but am still super worried about driving this thing. I'm wondering if that hose is even a high pressure cooling line or maybe something that hooks to the EGR?

 

[Explorer_PL]

I would take the throttle body off, and inspect the housing, hose, and the clamp itself. I do not think it's the little hose.

 

[08EddieCA]

While you follow Explorer_PL, you may want to invest in a new $0.89 o-ring.

 

[BootyDo]

Hi All,

I hate when folks don't follow up on a thread, but just wanted to say "thanks" again for all the help! I'm still not certain that this is totally fixed, but I was able to take the car to work Friday and then go to a buddy's house yesterday without incident.

So here's basically what I think happened: The stupid hose clamp on the upper radiator hose is a worm clamp. That kind that tightens as you turn the bolt. I replaced my radiator, hoses, thermostat, and thermostat gasket last year. I don't recall if I did this clamps or if I reused what was there. Either way, bad call. From what I can tell, the hose connecting to the top of the engine must have worked its way off every so slightly that under this extreme pressure, a high pressure stream of water could get out.

All I wound up doing was taking the hose off, clean the mating surfaces to the radiator neck and thermostat housing, and reinstall everything super snug. After two drives, dry as a bone. And one one of them, Torque had my coolant over 200 degree F so the thermostat should have been circulating, (the other drive hit about 196ish).

If this remains, I'm going to get those clamps off there and use the real ones, (not sure what they're called exactly), but I'm hoping to wait until the weather cools a bit towards the end of the Summer. One final note: the speed bumps in the parking lot I went over the day before this happened are the worst speed bumps I've honestly ever seen. I come to a complete stop and it's like jumping off a curb. Maybe coincidence but...

Oh, and that hose I said was the coolant line? Yeah, how about you wait for the smoke to disapear and follow it to the EGR valve I totally screwed that up.

 

[tripplec]

Whenever I have done rad hoses to their connection point. I have coated the inner dried hose and fitting with GE Silicone (white/clear don't matter). That stuff is fantastic. Slide the hose on and clamp it always using the threaded stainless steel hose clamps until fairly tight and rubber is squishing somewhat.

I never had a leak and if I did the T-stat and a paper gasket was used over it. Same thing, coat both gasket sides and bolt the housing on.

Just thought I'd share that.