Possible headgasket?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 16
From: high desert
Possible headgasket?
99 f1 4.6l
So a while back I did the work on the coolant line under the intake. I've noticed that after driving and letting the truck sit over night there is a very small puddle in the valley of the engine right where my clamps are. My first thought is that I did not clamp the hose correctly and it started leaking. But what I'm worried about is that it's actually dripping from the front driver side of the engine and slides down to the front valley of the engine. The reason for this is that the driver side front has some dirt build up and it looks wet, but the passenger side is dry. So I'm thinking it may be dripping down from somewhere els and collecting next to my clamps. Without taking anything apart, I cannot find any leaks around the intake or thermostat. Has a headgasket ever leaked very slowly into the valley of the engine? When the truck sits over night only.
Other notes, the truck runs awesome! It sometimes does have a weird idle when I've been driving for an hour or more and sitting in stop and got traffic but other then that it's spot on. I don't loose coolant besides the little puddle.
Any input? Thanks!
So a while back I did the work on the coolant line under the intake. I've noticed that after driving and letting the truck sit over night there is a very small puddle in the valley of the engine right where my clamps are. My first thought is that I did not clamp the hose correctly and it started leaking. But what I'm worried about is that it's actually dripping from the front driver side of the engine and slides down to the front valley of the engine. The reason for this is that the driver side front has some dirt build up and it looks wet, but the passenger side is dry. So I'm thinking it may be dripping down from somewhere els and collecting next to my clamps. Without taking anything apart, I cannot find any leaks around the intake or thermostat. Has a headgasket ever leaked very slowly into the valley of the engine? When the truck sits over night only.
Other notes, the truck runs awesome! It sometimes does have a weird idle when I've been driving for an hour or more and sitting in stop and got traffic but other then that it's spot on. I don't loose coolant besides the little puddle.
Any input? Thanks!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 269
Likes: 31
From: Hudson, NC
Did you replace the hose or just remove and reinstall it? Did you replace the clamp?
If the hose is loose fitting and you reused the factory pinch clamp that will cause a slight leak as the pressure bleeds down. When you're driving it'll swell from the heat (eventually it will leak when running).
If you have a worm-gear clamp it's possible it won't tighten enough for a good seal. The clamps that have a squared, pronounced hexnut/slotted head are the better quality clamp.
If you still thinking head gasket the best method is run a compression test on each cylinder. You can get the kit through the "loaner tool" program at Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, etc. The can even get you a print out of the factory specs.
Here's one of many links available that can walk you through it.
http://troubleshootmyvehicle.com/ford/4.6L-5.4L/how-to-test-engine-compression-1
If the hose is loose fitting and you reused the factory pinch clamp that will cause a slight leak as the pressure bleeds down. When you're driving it'll swell from the heat (eventually it will leak when running).
If you have a worm-gear clamp it's possible it won't tighten enough for a good seal. The clamps that have a squared, pronounced hexnut/slotted head are the better quality clamp.
If you still thinking head gasket the best method is run a compression test on each cylinder. You can get the kit through the "loaner tool" program at Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, etc. The can even get you a print out of the factory specs.
Here's one of many links available that can walk you through it.
http://troubleshootmyvehicle.com/ford/4.6L-5.4L/how-to-test-engine-compression-1
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 269
Likes: 31
From: Hudson, NC
If you replace the clamps I have found NAPA carries the best quality.
Stay away from Walmart and any clamps that have the plastic butterfly twist. They are the lowest quality clamps.