ford fe and coolant leak

[wrench87]

I have a coolant leak on my 445 I can see some fluid near the dipstick tube on my canton oil pan which is located on the passenger side any ideas?.
I have heard brent talk about the timing cover bolt which ones go through the coolant passeges?, I cant remember but i thought i put arp thread lock sealer on them.

[FWB]

check the t-stat housing.....are you using a expansion tank mounted to the intake?

weep hole under water pump.....the highest pressure will be when you first shut it off, that will be the best time to see where it's coming from

[Barry_R]

Thermostat is most popular.
Water pump mounting holes are common.
Lower two timing cover bolts on each side sometimes (not always) go into water.

[wrench87]

I am running a expansion tank, I am going to remove the alternator so i can get a better look. The funny thing is I can never see anything drip but when I take the car out there is a large wet spot spread out on the garage floor it is to the point that you cant tell it is antifreeze unless you wipe it and take a sniff?.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by wrench87

I am running a expansion tank, I am going to remove the alternator so i can get a better look. The funny thing is I can never see anything drip but when I take the car out there is a large wet spot spread out on the garage floor it is to the point that you cant tell it is antifreeze unless you wipe it and take a sniff?.

Fluorescent dye in the cooling system will show the origin of a coolant leak like that pretty quick. I had a trickle from the heater hose shutoff valve that required that to spot.

[FWB]

Originally Posted by wrench87

I am running a expansion tank, I am going to remove the alternator so i can get a better look. The funny thing is I can never see anything drip but when I take the car out there is a large wet spot spread out on the garage floor it is to the point that you cant tell it is antifreeze unless you wipe it and take a sniff?.

well if it lays down that much on the floor you should have no problem seeing the leak......i wouldn't take it apart just yet.....i would warm it up and shut it off to see the leak..... pull the wheel on that side so you can get under it to see with a good shop light.

[Danr55]

Check all of the solder joints on the expansion tank. Ive had a couple that just dissolved be cause of flux residue. You can. Buy a pressure testor for practically nothing. Pump the tank up cold and look for the drip.

[wrench87]

I just wanted to update on my coolant leak. I pressure tested the system and found the leak at the little short hose from the intake to the w pump, I had to tighten the clamp.
I still can hear a slight air leak at the top of the tank could be my pressure tester?, the tank I have was bought used and I had it repaired. How is the quality of the new tanks they sell?, and who has the best quality.

I saw a aluminum version on E bay for 160.00 has any one used one?.

[FWB]

cool,.... easy fix. try some soapy water on outside of tank to see if its the tank you hear hissing, or it may be just hissing out the overflow hose nipple.