I have a 1997 Ford F150,4.2 liter,6 cylinder,and for the last couple of months I have noticed a coolant leak only when I stop the truck.I have to fill the reservoir up about once a week,....It does not overheat,no smoke is coming out,and there is no coolant coming out when I drive...It is very frustrating.It seems to only leak when I finish driving the first time in the morning,and maybe once more during the day after I stop....all other times..no leak...A friend looked under the car and hood and said there was white residue on my oilpan and thinks the waterpump needs replacing...hoses are dry,not collaspsing and I havent flushed the radiator in about 45000 miles...Any help would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like it's your timming cover leaking, happened to my 97 with the 4.2. I had it fixed under 3/36 warranty.

 

Thanks for the info,I am not a mechanic,so please explain what a timing cover is...the ruck has 96,000 miles on it..its been a great truck,and this has been the only problem so far.,..

 

It's on the front of the engine behind the water pump. It's so you can get to the chain that's used to turn the cam(s). I've not really looked at what they look like on the modular engines with the overhead cams. Is the V6 an overhead cam too? If you are not familar with it's location, then I'd suggest you take it in to a shop. Sometimes the cover fits on the inside of the oil pan and you have to drop it to get to the timing cover. The whole cost will be for labor. A new gasket will probably only cost $10, but it'll cost a couple hundered for someone to replace it!!

Good Luck

 

Yup, the 97 year model trucks with the V-6 had a timing cover recall that covers the timing cover leak. Ford had to redesign the timing cover gasket or something so that it wouldn't leak. While I think the recall is expired, you should contact your dealer and ask them about it. It is a very common problem for that year model, or so I've read.

 

I called my local ford dealer,and he looked up my VIN # and informed me that my truck was not part of the timing cover recall..I thought ALL 97 F150 were...I have had 2 different mechanics say it is the waterpump...something about a "weephole"..So I bought a new waterpump and am having a mechanic friend put it in......but I am confused about the recall...any other information??

 

Ya, Ford said my truck wasnt covered under the recall. I reasearched the nhsta website and found that the damages caused by the (unnoticable) LEAK are causing 4.2 to blow up at 40,000 to 60,000 miles. I called ford customer care the worked out a new engine and timimg cover. I picked it up last thur.

 

This also happened to me at about 50,000 miles on my 97 Ford F150. The problem is the timing chain cover gasket. Which is a recall on some models of the 97 model. I took it in and it was replaced the same day, as a recall.

 

If a mechanic sees coolant or coolant residue at the weephole of the waterpump, then I'd have to say it's a bad waterpump.

The inconsistent leaking was the first indication of a bad waterpump seal. When the pump shaft stops in a certain position, it leaks. Eventually, it would have leaked all the time.