2010 5.4L 161k

I noticed some coolant leaking from the center of the truck about a week ago, but it wasn't much and I was in a rush, so I didnt take an in depth look. I drove it again about 40 miles round trip a few days ago and nothing leaked. This is the first time that I've ever seen it leak anything before.

This morning I ran some errands, it was early and still cool out, mid 60s. I drove about 6 miles, mixed highway and surface streets then stopped for about 2 minutes. No leaks. the truck was up to temp.

Then I drove another 5 miles, mixed highway and surface. This stop was about 15 minutes. No leaks here either.

I finished up with a 9 mile mixed highway and surface street drive back home. When I got home, the truck had already been leaking coolant and continued to do so after I parked. There was a line of coolant "drips" showing where I backed in.

Not a lot of coolant leaked, but more than enough to be concerned about. More so because of where its coming from. From what I can tell, some where above/behind the crank pulley. I cant see any evidence of a leak from above, and from below, the view is blocked. The highest spot I can see it dripping from is the bottom of the pulley.

I attached a photo from above and below. I cant see where its coming from, which makes me worried about what its going to take to fix it. Any thoughts on where the leak may be coming from?

 

Its probably your water pump.

Get in there with mirror and flashlight, if necessary, and verify it coming from water pump weep hole.

If so, replace WP. No big deal or cost if its the wp.

 

Water pump...

 

Thanks Guys. I've got a new inspection mirror in the mail as we speak. The old one seems to have grown legs.

I think I know the answer I'm gunna get, but any recommendations on brand for the replacement?

A quick search at Rock Auto showed 8 options ranging in price from about $24 to $225, all for mechanical pumps. Summit has quite a few options as well, even some electric options. The stock pump lasted a 160,000, so why mess with it, right?

My only question would be, are these in any way similar to the oil pumps? I know Melling makes HV and HV/HP replacement oil pumps for these engines that are a vast improvement over the stock units. Anything similar on the water pump side?

I don't think I'm gunna go electric, too many "other items" I would need to add to the list.

 

Use motorcraft. Replace thermostat too, and any o'rings that get disturbed in the process. Refill with compatible coolant type...I'd use motorcraft for zero compatibility concerns.

Could be issues with trapped air in system if not using vacuum refill equipment. I've never owned a 5.4....only 5.0's.


Good luck

 

My new Inspection Mirror arrived late last week, but I still cant see where the fluid is coming from. I've driven the truck twice on short (less than 5 miles) trips since I got the mirror and I didnt see a drop of coolant after either trip.

I'm going to order the new pump and gasket today, hopefully I'll have the time to replace it this weekend. I changed the coolant myself at about 65k and 120k, so I'm not concerned about that part of the process.

The Haynes, manual I have skips over 4 or 5 of the removal steps and the "install instructions" just say "do the removal steps backwards" so its not much help at all. It also doesn't include anything on torque specs for the pump or pulley bolts. Any recommendations for a better manual? Haha

 

Myself, I would want to prove the pump is leaking before going through the trouble of replacing it(possibly breaking bolts). Shouldn't be a big issue to look at the weep hole on the bottom, even from underneath. Even if it has stopped, you should still see some evidence if coolant was coming out of that weep hole or even coolant running down the lower hose. From your pics, I wouldn't expect to see coolant there if it was originating from the water pump. I would look closely at the radiator or perhaps a poorly fitting hose...

 

It finally "went" yesterday and dropped about a half gallon of coolant in the process. I was close to home and it was a cool day, so despite the fans running full blast for the last couple miles, the truck didnt get hot.

I was FINALLY able to see the coolant coming out of the water pump, just a few small trickles. It was splashed everywhere else, but hardly anything on/around the pump. Either way, I'll be replacing the pump, but not for a few weeks unfortunately. I'll be travelling for work M-F, then Pronghorn Hunting next weekend. Fortunately I won't be using my truck for either so I have almost two weeks to get everything together.

I've looked at 3 different sets of instructions on the process, all seem to be missing a step or 4 and none of them match. The process seems pretty straight forward, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. (thread sealer on the pump bolts, all the right gaskets from the start, etc.)

The steps as I see them:

1. Drain the coolant. No questions here.

2. Remove the pulley bolts, makes sure the serpentine belt doesn't loosen up from all the other pulleys.

3. I'll clean up the bolts and pulley, anything on the bolts when I replace them? Loc tite Blue,?

4. Remove the bolts from the pump itself and pull the pump off.

5. Clean everything up really well.

6. Put it all back together. Refill the system with new coolant.

 

Glad you made it home.
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