92' F150 eating coolant?
07-01-2011, 04:14 PM
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92' F150 eating coolant?
Hey guys, I'm new here and actually just got my first F150, its a 1992 Flareside with 135k miles on it (actually my first car in general!) Needs a few things here and there but it seems to have a coolant leak, but there it none leaking out on the ground. I filled it to the cold fill line 2 days ago now it is about an inch lower and will most likely be empty within a week. Worst case senario is I have a blown head gasket but could my truck just be burning it? Any help would be nice or even to test if I have a leak.
07-01-2011, 04:21 PM
#2
Just call me sean. Really
Mine used to drink coolant. Finally made itself known by the water pump gasket. Check your hoses and that gasket for signs of leakage, look around the radiator cap, and the overfill tube that goes from the resevoir to the rad. Also look at the little hoses coming off the water pump and going to the heater, mine are starting to go and they leak enough to notice on the level but you'd miss it on the hoses if you aren't looking
07-01-2011, 06:59 PM
#3
Squishy Heads
if you have the 4.2 that's a serious problem and you are probably well on your way to a catastrophic hydro lock. Either way mysteriously dissapearing coolant can be a sign of a bad head gasket and hydro locking. Burning coolant is a very dangerous thing, and horrible things can happen to your engine like this.
07-02-2011, 07:09 AM
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if you have the 4.2 that's a serious problem and you are probably well on your way to a catastrophic hydro lock. Either way mysteriously dissapearing coolant can be a sign of a bad head gasket and hydro locking. Burning coolant is a very dangerous thing, and horrible things can happen to your engine like this.
07-02-2011, 04:47 PM
#6
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Coolant leaks like you describe can be tiny and hard to see. So, pretty much the same answer you've already gotten. Check all hoses closely, radiator cap, water pump, etc.
Maybe try this. Wipe down all radiator hose ends, heater hose ends, around thermostat water inlet, water pump too if you can, etc. (so they'll be dry) Then after you drive it a little, try touching your finger under/around the hose ends to see if it's wet a little. A seeping hose or connection might be your answer. Careful, it's gonna be hot!
note: Radiator caps and overflow hose are a frequent problem too. They're cheap so you might just replace them. See what happens.
Maybe try this. Wipe down all radiator hose ends, heater hose ends, around thermostat water inlet, water pump too if you can, etc. (so they'll be dry) Then after you drive it a little, try touching your finger under/around the hose ends to see if it's wet a little. A seeping hose or connection might be your answer. Careful, it's gonna be hot!
note: Radiator caps and overflow hose are a frequent problem too. They're cheap so you might just replace them. See what happens.
