Fluid Leaks in Extreme Cold

[MrEvilPirate]

It's been ballz cold in New England past few days. I replaced thermostat housing a few months ago, leak was gone. Noticed smell of coolant, and I now have another leak at thermostat housing (where upper meets lower).

At same time I noticed I was low on clutch fluid.

I've had to top both off over past week.

I know my slave cylinder for clutch is probably gonna go out at some point. I'm hoping extreme cold has caused seals to temporarily shrink a bit. 2 leaks at same time seems like interesting coincidence.

Anyone else ever experience cold related leaks?

 

[sgtsandman]

Not on my 2011 Ranger but I've been chasing a coolant smell on my 1999 SUV for some time. I must have a pin hole leak somewhere that I can't find a stain or any liquid with a light and/or a mirror. Only get the smell when it's really cold.

 

[chewy012]

Not on my 2011 Ranger but I've been chasing a coolant smell on my 1999 SUV for some time. I must have a pin hole leak somewhere that I can't find a stain or any liquid with a light and/or a mirror. Only get the smell when it's really cold.

Might have hair line cracks in your heater core. That's where my "mysterious" leak is.... I think.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[sgtsandman]

Might have hair line cracks in your heater core. That's where my "mysterious" leak is.... I think.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I'd be inclined to agree if it was in the cabin but it's only from outside the vehicle in the engine bay. Frankly, I'm surprised the heater core hasn't sprung a leak yet since it's the original and it's 19 years old.

 

[chewy012]

I'd be inclined to agree if it was in the cabin but it's only from outside the vehicle in the engine bay. Frankly, I'm surprised the heater core hasn't sprung a leak yet since it's the original and it's 19 years old.

Yeah, probably not then haha

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[07nhbpsi]

It's been ballz cold in New England past few days. I replaced thermostat housing a few months ago, leak was gone. Noticed smell of coolant, and I now have another leak at thermostat housing (where upper meets lower).

At same time I noticed I was low on clutch fluid.

I've had to top both off over past week.

I know my slave cylinder for clutch is probably gonna go out at some point. I'm hoping extreme cold has caused seals to temporarily shrink a bit. 2 leaks at same time seems like interesting coincidence.

Anyone else ever experience cold related leaks?

Not cold related, but if u have the 4.0 then I’d say replace the thermostat housing......reason being they are notorious for leaking....for what it’s worth mine wasn’t leaking until I replaced my thermostat then about two weeks later I was replacing the housing.....

 

[MrEvilPirate]

LOL so yeah mine wasn't leaking either. Replaced timing chain tensioner. Developed a leak at the temp sender. Replaced that (not motorcraft part, lesson learned), and it leaked like crazy. Messed around with the o-ring, swapped it out to different sizes, finally some teflon tape sealed it up, no leaks for several months. It seems to be leaking now where the upper and lower thermostats housing parts mate. But this morning it is a balmy 24 compared to the single digits it's been for the past couple weeks, and the housing is dry.

I actually bought new thermostat housing for and explorer (I have a ranger) when I was getting ready to mess with it last time, assuming I would need to replace it again. I went with the explorer housing because the sensors thread into it, instead of the ridiculous friction fit w/retaining clip style used on the rangers.

I must have owned a dozen vehicles by now, I've wrenched on them all, this truck is the only one with such crazy coolant issues, which all seem like they could have been avoided with a better designed housing.

The top part of the housing is angled slightly differently, not sure if it will fit under the intake or not, but I figured I'd give it a try if I have to dig into this again.