YEP....another 06 radiator leak...any solutions to this problem?

[03explorereb]

gents,
I am new to the world 06-10 explorers, however this is my tenth Ex overall. I am very familiar with the 02-05's and their quirks but was unaware of the radiator problems associated with the 06+s.
I want to know everybody's experience with this, what they've found out that causes this, and is there a solution that will last beyond 20,000 miles?
I have heard rumors, everything from bad grounds causing electrolysis to ****ty radiator caps generating too much pressure buildup in the system.

I have a thought about this. what about the possibility of converting the cooling system to one similar to 02-05's? forgive me if this sounds stupid but with every explorer I owned I NEVER had this issue with the older coolant systems.

thanks and I value everybody's thoughts as always.

 

[boominXplorer]

Sure it hasn't been in an accident? I had a mountaineer that would eat radiators every 5k mi and it was because the core support was tweaked about 3/8 of an inch. It would leak from where the plastic caps meet the aluminum body.

 

[pzy3339]

When I bought my 2006 2 years ago it had a pinhole leak in the radiator. I could smell the coolant when the vehicle was hot, but it never dripped, coolant would drop to low from topped off every few weeks, maybe a month. I used 1 vial of that aluminum radiator powder(about $3) and the problem faded away. It's been about a year since I did that and zero problems since.

If you are dripping you could have a radiator shop repair it for you. That has to be cheaper than buying a new one. That said, if the issue is a bad radiator design, or application, then hunting down an aftermarket substitute would probably be a more permanent solution.

Good luck.

 

[03explorereb]

Thanks guys for all the info. As far as I know this thing has never been wrecked. I thought about going the way of stop leak but wasn't sure if it would be effective or not. I wonder if anybody has had any luck with the aftermarket radiators. I also wonder if anybody has went retro with the system and set it up similar to the 2002 through 2005 models, or if this is even possible. I still have a 2003 parked in the driveway so I might have to do some comparing. Anyways guys thanks for the info and if anybody else has any opinions on this please let me know. Thanks!

 

[vipersinu2]

You might be on to something with the electrolysis from the grounding issue. My negative battery cable always is corroded with a green film.

 

[03explorereb]

yeah,
i have heard that the 06 and up have ground issues that cause this. i might run a little test in the next day or so to see if i can confirm this. i am wondering if anybody on here has had any luck with the aftermarket radiators. i am looking at the one from Spectra. supposedly this radiator is the cure-all for this. anyone have one and what is your experience?

 

[Tech By Trade]

Its what happens when you use plastic tanks on a rad in a crappy design. they fail. The plastic thermostat housing will be next.
The aftermarkets are fine, just hold on to your rad cooler fittings because they will leak on some cheaper ones. The quick connect o-rings and locks are crappy. If you swap them out with your oem one they will work fine. I am on my second year with the spectra now.

 

[03explorereb]

i suspect the previous owner thought it had a seeping head gasket. i got a stellar deal on the vehicle. 141,000 miles, new transmission, and the engine had freshly been replaced with a 60000 mile engine. 3800 bucks out the door for an awd xlt with third row and rear heat and air i thought was a pretty good deal. drives like a Cadillac also. coolant tank was empty when i showed up to buy it but i wasn't too alarmed by this because it sat and idled for about 30 minutes with no problems. i smelled coolant but due to my familiarity with 4.0s i pretty much figured the t-stat housing was leaking, which of course it was. i replaced it with a low mileage stat housing from an 06 mustang. works great with no leaks there. guess later on this week i might order the spectra rad. we will get'er figured out soon. my wife doesn't like the 02 v8 as much. thanks guys.

 

[swetrid]

Ford has a PCM update which was required when a radiator was replaced on the 06-07 models. It has to do with cooling fan strategy I believe.

 

[03explorereb]

I wonder what the connection is between replacement of the radiator and the cooling fan recalibration. I have heard of the fan problem and the turbo prop-like manners it manifests. I am not sure but maybe the constant heat up and cool down of the radiator from this fan problem might be part of the issue, by that meaning expansion and contraction due to heat. maybe the recal might keep the temp a little more consistent. not sure. just my thoughts. I remember something my father in law did to his buick rendezvous. the gm front wheel drive vans and crossovers have a really ****ty cooling system design where they constantly overheat until the fan finally kicks in, cooling things down, and then the cycle repeats itself over and over and over....well, you get the picture. anyways after a failed radiator, then intake gaskets (twice), and finally head gaskets he soldered a diode into the power distribution box to deliver consistent cooling via the low speed fan relay. all of the previously listed problems happened between 70000-100000 miles, which is a total crock of crap for what I would consider a well kept vehicle. anyhow the end result is that after an additional 69000 miles since the diode there has been exactly ZERO issues with the vehicle. I put it on my scan tool and observed engine temp. the swings previously varied from 190 and 245 degrees. since then with the diode shorting to the low speed fan relay it varies between 192 and 204. much better and more consistent. maybe there is a connection here. awww, what the hell do I know? grasping at straws.

 

[captainquigg]

gents,
I am new to the world 06-10 explorers, however this is my tenth Ex overall. I am very familiar with the 02-05's and their quirks but was unaware of the radiator problems associated with the 06+s.
I want to know everybody's experience with this, what they've found out that causes this, and is there a solution that will last beyond 20,000 miles?
I have heard rumors, everything from bad grounds causing electrolysis to ****ty radiator caps generating too much pressure buildup in the system.

I have a thought about this. what about the possibility of converting the cooling system to one similar to 02-05's? forgive me if this sounds stupid but with every explorer I owned I NEVER had this issue with the older coolant systems.

thanks and I value everybody's thoughts as always.

I had same problem on my '06. Bought a new radiator and replaced thermostat with one that was 20°cooler.
Put about 200,000 miles on it since then with no problems.

 

[captainquigg]

gents,
I am new to the world 06-10 explorers, however this is my tenth Ex overall. I am very familiar with the 02-05's and their quirks but was unaware of the radiator problems associated with the 06+s.
I want to know everybody's experience with this, what they've found out that causes this, and is there a solution that will last beyond 20,000 miles?
I have heard rumors, everything from bad grounds causing electrolysis to ****ty radiator caps generating too much pressure buildup in the system.

I have a thought about this. what about the possibility of converting the cooling system to one similar to 02-05's? forgive me if this sounds stupid but with every explorer I owned I NEVER had this issue with the older coolant systems.

thanks and I value everybody's thoughts as always.

 

[captainquigg]

I had same problem on my '06. Changed out t-stat to one with about 20-30 degrees less than stock, and replaced cap to one with a lower opening temp. Haven't had any problems for about 10 years now. Hope this helps.

 

[94Eddie]

I had same problem on my '06. Changed out t-stat to one with about 20-30 degrees less than stock, and replaced cap to one with a lower opening temp. Haven't had any problems for about 10 years now. Hope this helps.

IMO, the 20 psi radiator cap used in 2006-2010 Explorers and Mountaineers is the main reason for radiator, and many other cooling system, failures.