Coolant leak at timing cover?

[stubborn1]

2000 4.0ohv with 230k miles

I am chasing down issues after picking up the truck last week. I have a slow coolant leak behind the water pump on driver side right at timing cover to engine. Strange to see a leak here since I wouldn't think you would have any coolant passage thru a timing cover. Is this a common issue on these engines? My quick search makes me think it could be a lower intake manifold gasket?

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

On the 4.0l OHV there is no coolant passage in front cover, 3.0l OHV did have that

Common coolant leak points at front of engine
Water pump, of course
Lower intake front right or left, coolant passes thru lower intake between heads, because intake is aluminum and head is cast iron(dissimilar metals) you can get galvanic corrosion if coolant gets too old, it eats away at the aluminum and gasket at the joint.
Passenger side front is more common

Uncommon
Pin hole leak in Rad or heater hose, it sprays an INVISIBLE stream of coolant onto a surface that has no reason to have coolant leaking, lol, so pain to track down
And it only sprays out AFTER engine/coolant is heated up

 

[mikkelstuff]

Not uncommon problem with aluminum timing case covers. Acidic coolant (antifreeze/water mixtures) eats away at the covers. I had to replace the covers on both Ford 3.0L and 460 CID engines.

I have since bought an electronic pH tester and check the coolant on all my vehicles.

 

[Shran]

On the 4.0l OHV there is no coolant passage in front cover, 3.0l OHV did have that

There are two coolant passages that go through the timing cover on the 4.0 OHV. They go directly through it into the water pump. The timing cover gasket gets blown out right there on both sides... every 4.0 I've dealt with thus far has had this issue. Kind of a PITA to fix. Use a Ford gasket, not the Felpro junk. Ford p/n FOTZ-6020-A

 

[Shran]

See the round holes with coolant in them on either side of the timing chain:

This is where they blow out at:

 

[stubborn1]

Awesome - I appreciate the pics and the knowledge.

I also have a leaking rear main seal so I'm half tempted to pull the engine and work on it all outside of the truck.