Overheating?
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1
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From: Louisburg
Overheating?
I am in need of help with my 1994 Ford F-150,Straight 6 cylinder Manual transmission truck. Several weeks ago I noticed a leak in my radiator. I went to the auto parts store and found out that a new radiator costs about 180.00. I don't have the money right now to replace it so I bought some stop-leak. It seemed to work for a while. The other day I drove about 50 miles and I noticed it leaking again. Then I noticed the temperature guage increasing to hot, I noticed a noise coming from above the passenger side, a gurgling sound, and the heater in the truck started blowing cold air. I stopped the truck to check and I saw the coolant over flow still full of liquid ,so I didnt think I was low on water. I was close to home so I continued driving. The noise that I described happened several more times, each time the guage went down the heat returned. The noise happened again and the guage went up and the heat went off. Is my heater core going bad or did I hurt it by using stop leak. I can't afford to take it to the shop so I need to find out what might be wrong other than the radiator. I would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you 
[This message has been edited by micolry (edited 12-31-2000).]
[This message has been edited by micolry (edited 12-31-2000).]
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Micolry,
First item that comes to mind is a stuck closed thermostat preventing coolant to circulate through the engine from the radiator. Chances are more than even this is your problem. If your radiator core is clogged then you don't have much choice in taking it to a good radiator specialist.
Stop leak is really only a temporary fix unless the leak is very minor. Changing the thermostat is easy and should be part of normal preventative maintenance along with changing your hoses and coolant every three years.
I would change your thermostat anyhow. They are only a few dollars and it only takes a few minutes to change one. If this doesn't solve the problem then the problem is more complicated.
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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)
First item that comes to mind is a stuck closed thermostat preventing coolant to circulate through the engine from the radiator. Chances are more than even this is your problem. If your radiator core is clogged then you don't have much choice in taking it to a good radiator specialist.
Stop leak is really only a temporary fix unless the leak is very minor. Changing the thermostat is easy and should be part of normal preventative maintenance along with changing your hoses and coolant every three years.
I would change your thermostat anyhow. They are only a few dollars and it only takes a few minutes to change one. If this doesn't solve the problem then the problem is more complicated.
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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 355
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Check your radiator level when its cooled down. May be way low on coolant. The sound you described sounds like a big steam bubble working its way up to the heater core. No hot water in core, no heat from heater. Steam is caused by overheating, maybe created by low radiator level. Don't trust the overflow tank level to tell you if its full. If you have a leak, when it cools down, it will suck in air from the leak point instead of picking up the spare coolant. Been fooled by that before!
