Hey guys! So, I'm new here... I recently purchased a 95 F150 5.0 4x4 that I thought would need minimal work done to it... price was right, so I jumped in with both feet. well.. I have one hell of a headache now!!!

I'm having an overheating issue. So, I knew the radiator hoses needed to be replaced, so I did that. I flushed the radiator, cleaned the reservoir because it had some sand in it.. I hoped that would resolve the issue.. but nope! so now, I've replaced the hoses top and bottom, thermostat, the outer thermostat housing that the top hose connects to, freeze plug, the sensor/plug looking thing that sits next to the thermostat housing and put a catalytic converter on it (was supposed to have one, previous owner cut it off and didn't bypass anything)

Last night, I started her up and decided to drive it around the block... 4 blocks later, she started getting hot.. by the time I got her home and parked, she was HOT! and yes, I remembered to refill the radiator with coolant!

I'm really at a loss and just short of banging my head on a brick wall...

Thanks so much in advance for help!



Thank you everyone so much for all the help!

update!!! replaced the water pump, drove it for 45mins on all different road types (stop signs, red lights, 25-45mph zones) and no over heat issue!!!!

idling weird at stop signs and red lights, also shifting hard out of park and a little jerks into second... one problem down, more to go!

 

Have you taken out or replaced the water pump?

 

what did the water or if it had coolant look like when you drained it ?

 

No I haven't! I thought about it, but didn't know if it would play a factor.. I went to the worst case scenario in my head that I have to replace the radiator.. and I really don't want to have to do that.

 

It was really dirty... it was green at first, then the more it drained, the dirtier it got... then I put my hose on the radiator fill cap and let it circulate and drain about four times until it ran completely clear with no dirt or anything coming out of it..

 

Yeah it's definitely a factor. The fins on the inside of it dissolve / corrode over time, especially on a truck of this age. Then they don't move any liquid

 

If the water pump is not working that would be your problem. 4 blocks is really fast to over heat. That isn't a radiator.

Not sure the best way to test it.

 

awesome! thank you so much! I'll check it out!

 

that's what I thought too! that it was happening way too fast! thanks so much!

 

Check your fan clutch. I am having a problem with my truck overheating only when I drive slow or am Idling. My fan clutch was worn, and the fan wasn't engaging to cool the engine when it is needed most (slow driving or idling when no wind is blowing on the radiator). You can check your fan clutch by checking it with the engine off. Try spinning it by hand. There should be some resistance when you try and spin it. If it spins freely, you have a worn fan clutch. A new one was about 40 bucks at advance auto parts.