When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ok so bought a used 2000 F150 XLT Lariat Triton. Had some problems 2 winters ago where the heat wouldnt work. Flushed the system to make sure it was not a clog anywhere. No go, so replaced the heater core last spring. Worked fine until about a month ago. Started noticing a sweet smell in the truck, more when we had the heat on to defrost the windows in the morning about a month ago. Also had some white, for lack of a better word, fog/smoke coming out of the AC vents. Checked my coolant levels, peachy. Smoke died off, kept checking coolant levels, all gravy. Today, I come out from getting lunch and noticed a puddle under my truck. It looked green so I smelled it and it smelled faintly of antifreeze. Not a strong smell but it was green. Got the truck back to the parking lot at work and let it sit. Came out on last break, wife had truck running and noticed it leaking again under the passenger side under the truck. Left work and stopped at Advance and filled up the reservoir. Got home and it was still leaking. Floorboard on the inside is bone dry. Cant see anything on the top of the engine or side. All dry there but it is running down the rails underneath. Any suggestions, folks?
Bone dry inside ? Check the pockets in floorboard. Passenger side right below and in front of the kick panel. You'll have to lift the carpet there, but that's where pocket or sump hole like area is in the floorboard.
Yea determine if it's running down the firewall or inside for sure. When they leak in the engine compartment in that area, they tend to soak the starter. So check the starter from down under as well. That where the heater core hardline from behind the water pump back end up as well.
But, IF you can smell it in the cab like that, - sounds like the heater core again. Heater cores may have a shortened life if yoiu replaced the hoses with cheaper OEM's without the brass reducing bushing or if you've been running with an air pocket that hasn't found it's way out yet. Any gurgling sounds after shut down ? Can be stubborn systems to purge /burp.
Double checked under the carpet as suggested and the inside is still dry. Tested a theory today and found that if I drive with the AC off like I did this morning, no leak. I checked levels when I got to work and they were perfect. Cut the truck back on and put the ac on tilt full blast. Leak started up right away within seconds of cutting it on. Pushed around on the wheel well and crawled under the truck in the work parking lot. Posted two pics of what looks like the housing that goes up to my heater core. Now, my heater core is a container if that helps with why I dont have leakage in the front passenger side of my truck.
That looks like the AC drain, - or coming from it. Well, it doesn't look green anyway. Yea the AC drain behind the head unless your missing that elbow piece. Still difficult to pinpoint origination from here, but it looks clear vs like coolant.
If your missing that piece/ elbow...I think Carcrazy has more info on that piece. Is there another spot where it's wizzing green, - coolant ?
The eblow [MENTION=113]Jbrew[/MENTION] is talking about is just a PCV elbow. You can get that from any autoparts store. THe best thing is to add in a vacuum hose splice and extend the hose.
05-08-2015, 09:13 PM
Antifreeze leak from somewhere......
