Hello I have a 2009 f150 FX4 5.3 4x4 and it is a rebuilt truck from some minor front end damage. I have been over heating a few time the last year and so far it only happens if I am driving slow for long periods of time 5-10mph normally if I’m looking around the mountains. If I’m on the highway it never over heats even driving all the way to salt lake and back towing it doesn’t even attempt. Heat it good coolant level has decreased due to a leak in a hose that will be fixed soon but if it’s topped of and I start driving slow it overheats. I have look at the truck and noticed 2 different things first is the fan sit outside of the shroud about 3 inches which seems odd and second the fan clutch on the truck seems to be a temp clutch and not the electric clutch that I believe is supposed to be there which seems odd also. The only other thing I’ve noticed is sometimes when the truck gets to temp and I stop it will go cold again then it will warm up and if I stop again it will go cold. Have to make a 5000 miles round trip this December so any ideas would be greatly appreciative.

 

Sounds like possible stuck thermostat, also need to fix the leak, so all the air can be purged from cooling system.

 

Does it matter if I have the manual clutch fan or electric?

update- disregard the fan question it’s an electric clutch

 

Overheating at low speeds usually is an air flow problem. Make sure the radiator and condenser fins are not blocked with debris. Make sure the radiator fins are intact. Verify that the electric fan is working properly and smoothly. On many engines, if you pull the connector off the ECT sensor, the fan should come on.The fan also should be within the shroud.

 

Makes sense for sure does anyone have a 2009 f150 fx4 with the 5.4 I could get pictures of? Can’t figure out why the fan sits so far back it’s completely out of the should.