Merry Christmas to all, but I'm not have a good night. I can smell anti-freeze, but I cant find a leak or any evedence of a leak. Could it be that small of a leak that it is just burning up before it hits the ground? The truck runs great and I'm not running hot at all. I am getting nervus though, I have JUST under 50k. Any tips on where to look would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jeff

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1997 F150 4.2 4x2 X-CAB Flareside Black
With all of that out of the way, lets get to the good stuff:
STEREO: Special thanks to Josh & Popps @ www.radio-active.org
I'm going to change my whole set up.
Under D'Hood:[*] Only a K&N filter.
Its lame, you have to start somewhere right? Trust me, I dream BIG.
On D'Skin:[*] Bug Deflector[*] One Vent Visior, other fell off[*] windshield sticker for www.radio-active.org [*] Hyperwhite headlight bulbs[*] Clear quarter & back glass for an even tint. Thanks Progressive![*] Custom door dings from some A$$HOLE in a parking lot on both sides.
LINKS:
www.radio-active.org
www.roadarmor.com I said I have big dreams right?
www.nookie.com

 

jeff,
I smelled anti-freeze coming from my truck the day I brought it home from the dealership but had no idea why or what it was (I got the truck w/37k on it).
It did'nt take long before there was a puddle underneath the truck and it was the recall for the front seal..
These messageboards are worth the world to me and I'm thankful for them!! Without reading about the problem here, I might have ruined my engine by NOT bringing it straight to the dealership, they fixed it for free

there will be a leak soon enough.. tell the dealership you are worried about this recall and you want it checked out!!

p.s.(my dealership was ready to give my engine a clean bill of health because they could'nt find the leak, but I insisted they keep it until it leaked.. and it did)



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Green and Brown
97 F150 XLT
V6 4.2L 4X4
12 disk cd changer,
jvc 4ch 560watt poweramp (waitin on the speakers)

MODS :
K&n air filter
Superchip
Ravin Z55 exhaust

What's next?still thinkin):
FIPK,Tornneu cover, Tinted Rear Window
TBS, Jacobs ignition system

 

Arm yourself with a lube sample analysis -- and be sure to ask that they test for trace of antifreeze.

Antifreeze is a bearing-killer -- and too many people on this board have reported that their engine took a dump shortly after the recall procedure was completed.

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Y2K™ 7700 4x4
Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Ok, I looked in the recall listing and didnt find anything for a front seal leak. Maybe I missed it, but now I am getting worried that it may not be covered, I seriously doubt that they are going to volunter the info that it is on the recall list. If some one would get the thread for me I would put them in my will!! (may only get a bill or two, but its the thought, right?. Thanks to everyone on this board. It really helps out to have a good idea of what is possibly going to happen. ok, in the wise words of that old lady from the wendy's commercial, "WHERES THE THREAD!!"

 

I have the same problem. Just spoke to the dealer and they said that the recall would have came up when they recently did the fuel line recall. They saw no visible leaks. I had a pressure check done a week later and they found nothing either. Wondering what to do.

 

I have had the timing chain cover gasket changed twice. Once by a mechanic before the recall. He did something wrong. Started leaking again. Next time it was done by Ford under the recall.

Anyway, I just had the water pump changed. Same thing. I could smell it- but couldn't see it. Then, after awhile I found it. At first I thought it was a pin hole in the water pump. It was coming aout about two inches from the weep hole. Turned out to be a hairline crack. It is fixed now and running strong. 102K miles. One thing, it also never ran hot.

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1997 F-150 XL, 4.2L 5spd
Mods: 16x8 Centerline wheels, 285/60/16 Goodyear Eagle GT IIs, Flowmaster, K&N, tint, alarm, billet grille, clear corners, carpet, Kenwood CD w/Infinity speakers, 60/40 seats, and a 5hp "Ford Racing" sticker on the back window.

 

Well guys, I took it to the dealership b/c I had to do the 45k check up which consists of changing the oil, antifreeze and inspecting everything else. All that 174.??. Well my service advisor must have just gotten laid the night before, b/c she was in a very helpful mood. Basically I supplied the synthic oil (they didnt have any and said once you go there not to come back-synthic wise-) and they changed it along with the coolant and did a pressure check of the coolant which came back good. They rotated the tires and inspected everything and said all was well. All this for a WHOPPING $74.80 I cant complain about that. The only bad news that I got was that I am not covered on that timing cover recall b/c it is only good in the northern states where it gets butt a$$ cold! Oh Well. Thanks for the feed back. It means alot. Did I mention that I got my oil drain valve installed to? I will never have to pull the plug again!!

 

I once could smell anti-freeze every day when I got home from work. Could not find any leak. Tooks weeks for the water reservoir to drop any at all. Finally did a pressure test and found the leak. Less than a pin hole, it was blowing a fine mist right onto the hot engine and immediately evaporating. By the time the engine cooled down, the pressure had dropped and it stopped spewing. It was in a piece of heater hose about five inches long.