I haven't been on the forum lately because my truck has been running well. I have a problem so here I am...typical human nature.

Anyway, my 2001 F150 with 4.2L V-6 has 272,000 miles on it and has always been to the dealer every 5,000 miles. I was informed today the radiator is leaking (lower right corner) and needs to be replaced at $1,000. This is the 4th or 5th radiator I've replaced. Always the same location. Is this the typical life for a radiator in this truck? Could there be a wear spot causing it? I'm pretty frustrated at this happening again. Based on past history I should have expected it, since it's been 4 years since the last one failed. For the first time, Ford mechanics are not doing the job.

 

The radiator cap could be maintaining the system pressure higher than design. If you could do the replacement yourself, you could get a low price on a radiator at rockauto.com.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...,radiator,2172

 

You might have electrolysis occurring.

 

A thousand dollars is INSANELY expensive. If you have put poison in your radiator like Water Wetter or similar additive, sell the truck as this crap has now been absorbed into the metal of the engine and is contaminating the radiator. It's well documented for causing a static electric charge in the cooling system. I'd strongly suggest checking the cooling system for voltage before replacing the radiator. An electric charge in the cooling system will eat the radiator AND the impeller on the water pump. If you develop an over heating engine, probabilities are high the impeller is DOA. You must find the cause before spending more money on it.

 

1 radiator should last you 200k ...no problem. $1000 is about right at a dealer OEM FORD radiator. Normal shops would be about $600 non-ford radiator. Do it yourself in about 3 hrs (2 hrs cleaning up the mess).
Not sure what Labnerd has against water wetter but there are myths about everything in the world.

 

I've seen what agents added to a cooling system can do. Most of the time water wetter is for an engine that has a cracked head and is going to be replaced anyways just to buy time.

NOT a permanent solution.

 

considering its only a few bolts to do the job..... Feel like most people can do the job if they've ever worked around a car before

 

i believe you might have water wetter confused with BARS LEAK
Water wetter is used for race cars where you do NOT typically use antifreeze due to clean-up issues. It decreases the surface tension of water allowing greater contact area with it's surroundings thereby promoting greater heat transfer....no voodoo there...straight chemistry. Similar to adding washing machine detergent and rubbing alcohol to water...

 

Very closely inspect the 'yoke' the radiator is bolted to.
It may be cracked/broken/rusted allowing the radiator excess vibration.

 

I have a 2002 F150 4.2 L and recently purchased a new double core radiator for my truck for $100. from a radiator shop in Fort worth. Installed it myself without any problems. Fairly easy. The reason I did this is because the temp gauge had and still has a habit of suddenly shooting up to the hot mark at random. Water in plastic tank still fairly cool and no signs or sounds of any overheating. I find out that this engine only has one sensor for measuring the temperature and that is a cylinder head temp sensor and not any engine coolant temp sensor. Wish I had bought a Dodge with a 318. Nobody seem to know why this is happening to a lot of us. Sure Ford knows and is being awfully quite.

 

You have a 17 yr old truck with a very minor temperature indicator problem and you are bad mouthing the manufacturer. Geez!

 

If it is so minor maybe you have the solution to it. Right?

 

According to the shop manual the coolant temperature sensor is located on the top front of the engine.