jherrman@zoominternet.net wrote:
> I usually lurk here and find the list archives an incredibly valuable
> resource. I am now posting after a frustrating few days after a
> coolant flush.
>
> I have a 2003 4.7 V-8, with 61000 miles. It came with the long-life
> orange coolant, and the maintenance schedule recommends changing it at
> five years or 100000 miles. I just hit five years and took it to a
> local mechanic to have the coolant flushed. Everything seemed fine,
> and the next day I drove 75 miles without noticing any irregularities
> on the temp gauge---it always sits just below the mid-line when warmed
> up. Later, after it had been sitting in the garage, I noticed a small
> pool (maybe 8oz or so) of antifreeze under the front driver-side of
> car. I cleaned it up and also cleaned antifreeze from the bottom of
> the chassis. The coolant reservoir filler dipstick reads full. I
> wasn't sure wether perhaps the mechanic just did a messy job draining
> the system, or I had a leak. So today I drove about ten miles; while
> stopped on the road I noticed more leaking antifreeze as I was heading
> home. Just as I got home the temp gauge started getting a little hotter
> than normal (moving slowly past the center), and by the time I got
> home there was leaked coolant visibly smoking from under the hood. I
> opened the hood and saw plenty of coolant (not enough to really pool
> anywhere, but everything on the driver's side was wet with it) from
> the top of the engine compartment down. As I cleaned it up I noticed
> the radiator cap was loose, and I tightened it. I then went for a
> short test drive to see if that fixed the leak. The leak is fixed (at
> least as far as I can see; I'll see if there's anything under the
> truck in the morning), but now as soon as it warms up the temperature
> begins rising very quickly. On a short test drive around the
> neighborhood I had to shut it off when I got the "consult gauges"
> warning, and after it cooled I drove slowly back home (less than a
> mile, I had to stop another time for the "consult gauge" warning). I
> walked to get a new radiator cap and installed it, but the car still
> seems to want to overheat as soon as it warms up. I noticed when I
> replace the cap that there's no visible coolant in that part of the
> radiator hose, and when the engine warms up the hose feels cool on the
> radiator side of the cap, but hot on the engine side.
>
> As you might guess I'm no expert here. I can imagine the mechanic
> forgot to tighten the radiator cap, but everything was fine for 75
> miles after the flush. Would the cap loosen and leak on it's own just
> a day after a flush? Would it allow air into the system and thus cause
> the overheating issue I'm now having? I'm short on time to
> troubleshoot and the truck is my daily driver. I can't decide whether
> I should follow the FSM procedure to bleed air and add coolant and see
> if that fixes it, or have it towed in and checked out by someone else,
> whether to the mechanic who did the flush or the dealer.
>
> I would be grateful for any thoughts or advice.
>
> Jud Herrman
>
well first thing first - did you add any coolant to it at all since this
all started? I get the feeling you have not. Thats the first thing you
need to do before you drive it anymore. It sounds like you're driving
with it very low on coolant. You will cause lots of not-nice damage if
coolant is not added and you continue to drive.
It might be worth taking it back to the shop that did the flush and
raising a little hell to see if it will get you anything. If you dont
trust them anymore - take it somewhere else.
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