I recently took the truck in, based on an antifreeze smell coming from the vents when using the heater at full on. Has anyone else experienced anything simular???

 

You shouldn't smell any coolant unless the heater core is leaking.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...highlight=core

 

I work at Kavanaugs service, and my experiences there have told me this is a somewhat common thing. In one day, I bypassed three heater cores on a '97 4.6, a '99 4.6, and '98 4.6...Weird, huh...the tubes were a BITCH to get at too...Behind the manifold, right under the lip on the firewall...UGH...Is you're truck the 4.6?

 

Vtown Supercrew,

It is a common problem on the F-150. I have changed two heater cores in mine. It is a PITA. The dash has to come out.
Check out; http://members.shaw.ca/autocheck/electrolosis.htm

This site explains the problem very well.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

If you change the antifreeze every 2 years, the heater core should not self-destruct. If the water you mix with your antifreeze has a lot of minerals and stuff in it, use distilled water for about 80 cents a gallon at the grocery store. Before you pull the heater core, be sure the heater hoses are tight - on some models the antifreeze from a loose hose can run down the side of the core and you smell it inside.
Dave

 

Dave is right. Make sure the core is actually leaking before you change it.

JMC

 

I have the 5.4... I hope this isn't going to be something recurring.

 

The truck is only 9 months old with about 20Kmi...

I was planning on flushing the system before summer, it shouldn't require more than one service a year, should it???