Coolant

Asked by Dean Jul 15, 2018 at 04:22 PM about the 1984 Ford F-150 STD Standard Cab 4WD LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I took my truck on a hard ride up a logging road which increases in elevation by 5000 feet. About halfway up I pulled off to see the view. When I shut the motor off I could hear the water in the radiator boiling and was going into the overflow tank. The tank was almost full. I let it sit for an hour and the water drained back into the radiator. I turned around to head home and this did not happen again. However I drove to work (less than 2 miles) and when it sat in the parking lot some coolant leaked. I had a new water pump installed recently. What do I need to look for?

3 Answers
43,810

Hornet_2497 answered 6 years ago

Make sure by testing that you are running at least a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. The hydrometer will say -45F freezing point if it is. This keeps your boiling point high (260F) too. And is your pressure cap good (12PSI) too? Those two factors determine your boiling point. That's a tough climb so things got hot, and turning off the "heat soaked" motor made the coolant "cook" and boil over. Cooling stops when motor stops. Your truck is probably okay, just don't suddenly turn off a real hot motor. You might have to walk or coast back down the mountain. Not fun. Lol

Mark helpful

Dean answered 6 years ago

Thank you Hornet_2497. I will check the mixture tomorrow. The radiator cap was new 5 years ago. All the hoses were replaced about the same time. When I got under the truck I saw coolant steadily dripping from the lower hose. I have made this same trip with the truck before with no trouble but it is hard on it. Could the thermostat cause this?

Mark helpful
43,810

Hornet_2497 answered 6 years ago

That lower hose should not be leaking. Check that along with the thermostat, as they get older, they don't open up all the way. Also look and see if the radiator cores on the outside are clogged up with weeds and chaff. Enjoy your ride up the mountain.

Mark helpful

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