SOHC Coolant Loss

[Blueox]

Searched and found nothing specific. So....

Truck runs superb. Most of the time you don't know its running at idle until you look at the tack. But I noticed my reservoir was empty. Then checked the radiator and it was full. So I filled the reservoir to the cold line. Now down a bit.

Yesterday I washed it and put it in my heated garage so it wouldn't freeze shut. While walking past it, I smelled coolant. Hummm! I plan on getting a pressure check next week.

But are there any inherent problems with the SOHC? Heads, gaskets, intake, whatever...

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[cr_the_machinist]

I know the OHV are known to crack heads but I dont know about the SOHC. Pressure test may tell for sure if you have a leak. Do you have any weird cloudiness in the exhaust? First thing I'd do is when you get back from a drive I'd put some cardboard down under and near the engine to see it there are any drips or leaks overnight.

I know when my ovh probelms poped up it was cracked heads. It would start in the morning and run rough for about 10~15 seconds. It would seem to run fine when driving it but when you would idle at a light it would stumble and skip at idle.

Hope it doesn't turn into a headache for you. Cooling system problems are the worst!

 

[Blueox]

Thanks..........

Definately a pressure test. I did see some wetness around the lower radiator hose connection. Gotta check that out.

I am kinda anal when it comes to maintenance. Even the slightest loss of coolant drives me nuts. You see I had an '88 GM product with the 4.6. Had a catastrophic leak. Flooded the crankcase. $1,000 later, problem corrected. It too had a slow leak. That taught me to be vigilant.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The plastic side tanks on the rads on the SOHC's have a habit separating and causing a small leak.

 

[Blueox]

Interesting

Thanks,

I did notice a little wetness on both sides at the botton of the tank. Hummm... Sometimes they can be removed and recrimped. Did that on another vehicle and it worked fine. Just gotta do the presure test first. Do they add some dye???

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I've never added dye, just pressured up the cooling system and looked for the leak.

 

[SoLongStang9499]

This may or may not help. I had a very similar problem in my 99 4.0 OHV but the smell was from the engine bay area and not out the exaust, much like you described. It turned out my thermostat housing was leaking from the bottom and evaporated on the water pump from the underside, preventing me from seeing it easily, but like you said you could easily smell it after driving it. I dont know the setup of the SOHC, maybe someone can shed light on that, but if its similar you can check there, when coolant evaporates it leaves a kinda whitish powder. Hope this helps

 

[dorman68]

Check the plastic coolant outlet / thermostat housing for the radiator hose. I have replaced one my neighbors for leakage due to cracking.

 

[jmg8550]

Re-crimping a radiator with plastic side tanks is a waste of time and money. You'll have to pull the radiator out anyway. Might as well replace it. And the plastic itself can split.