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First Gen Cooling System -- 2.8 V6


ford4wd08

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Hi all,

Not sure which forum to post this in, so I chose the general discussion.

My 85 BII has a leak on the cooling system. It only occurs after you drive it for a while for the first time of the day and get it to temperature then cut the engine off, and it will begin leaking. I believe it may be a hose, but I cannot confirm yet. Once it leaks down a little it stops leaking.

My thought process is that the system is building pressure with the radiator cap like it is supposed to, then when the system is no longer circulating coolant with the water pump the pressure makes a older hose leak.

So this brings me to my question, how many soft hoses are on the cooling system for the 2.8?

I can see the thermostat is below the water pump (oh joy) and there are a few hoses running through the short circuit before the thermostat opens up.

The upper and lower hose to the radiator have been replaced and don't appear to be leaking, but I believe I need to replace other soft hoses and thermostat while I'm in there.
 


ford4wd08

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From all this I believe I have ruled out the water pump.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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There is a bypass hose that runs from the backside of the lower thermostat housing (on the back of the timing cover below the PS pump) up high... on mine.

I had a late '85 with the thermostat at the top though.
 

ford4wd08

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There is a bypass hose that runs from the backside of the lower thermostat housing (on the back of the timing cover below the PS pump) up high... on mine.

I had a late '85 with the thermostat at the top though.
Was there a change in the thermostat location? I believe what I saw last night was the thermostat below the fan... It was getting dark...
 
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ford4wd08

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Looks like there was a change in location from what Rock Auto has... it was a lower T-stat until 12/84. Mine was built in 9/84.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Mine was built 2/85.
 

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If you can get a hold of a cooling system pressure tester, you can pressurize it and maybe hear or see where the leak is at. I've found some really weird ones - the most recent was on a brand new upper radiator hose. There are these little strings inside the rubber, visible from the cut end of the hose, and coolant was somehow making its way through where one of those was and out the cut end of the hose. A second hose clamp fixed that right up. Found another one where coolant appeared to be coming out of the thermostat housing - it turned out to be from a heater hose right above it, AND, the timing cover gasket was seeping a little.

All that was on a 4.0 but it's universal advise, being able to pressurize the cooling system can really help track down the source.
 

ford4wd08

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If you can get a hold of a cooling system pressure tester, you can pressurize it and maybe hear or see where the leak is at. I've found some really weird ones - the most recent was on a brand new upper radiator hose. There are these little strings inside the rubber, visible from the cut end of the hose, and coolant was somehow making its way through where one of those was and out the cut end of the hose. A second hose clamp fixed that right up. Found another one where coolant appeared to be coming out of the thermostat housing - it turned out to be from a heater hose right above it, AND, the timing cover gasket was seeping a little.

All that was on a 4.0 but it's universal advise, being able to pressurize the cooling system can really help track down the source.
I hadn't thought of that.

Thank you for the good advice as usual.

I see my local Orielly's has a test kit for rent. That should help out.
 

Dsetz

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Did you fill the upper hose to make sure you don't have a bubble?
Mine was also expelling liquid while flushing it(just filled rad), stopped when I did a proper change.

Another option to find it is a uv dye kit.
 

ford4wd08

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Did you fill the upper hose to make sure you don't have a bubble?
Mine was also expelling liquid while flushing it(just filled rad), stopped when I did a proper change.

Another option to find it is a uv dye kit.
I haven't done any flushing, just topping off of fluid that were already in there.

I did add coolant to it while it was running with the cap off for a little bit.

I plan to complete a flush and replace the 35 year old hoses that are left along with the thermostat this weekend.

I'm hoping that will address everything. I was just wanting to make sure it wasn't a water pump leak with my line of thinking. Guess I'll find out this weekend.
 

ford4wd08

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What temp is everyone running for a thermostat? I believe the stock is 192 degrees. That's what I have ordered as a replacement.

Just curious, I don't believe this engine has ever had over heating problems.
 

ford4wd08

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Got to work on it today. I have the old style thermostat where it is built into the timing cover.

What.

A.

Pain.

In.

The.

Ass.

I was able to replace the bypass hoses and put in a new thermostat with a new gasket on each side.

It doesn't poor any coolant out anymore, but it has a slight drip occasionally. I think the rear gasket to the thermostat housing isn't in there just right. It was a little thin anyhow. I'm going to see if I can find a better seal and replace it later.

It is definitely driveable now, and it no longer has a massive leak. I clean out the year old coolant too.
 

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85_Ranger4x4

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Yup, I hated that on mine. It was the same minus the thermostat being there with the two hose fittings sandwiching the timing cover. I loosened the PS pump and flopped it out of the way (left the hoses connected)

Stupid design, the threaded holes for the back housing were also stripped on mine so I got longer bolts and ran nuts on the back side.
 

ford4wd08

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I'm going to take it apart again and use some RTV made for water pumps on the gaskets it was supplied with.

I'm sure I can make it stop leaking.
 

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