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  #1  
Old 03-11-2014, 11:04 PM
boboyobo boboyobo is offline
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Default Losing Coolant

I have a 2004 3.0 that is losing coolant. The front (closest to fan) of the passenger side exhaust manifold appears to be staying damp. The water runs from roughly from there down. I have visually seen no water drip from that area but have seen it drip from random other areas, one of which I identified as an ac line. I however have noticed a loss of coolant in my reservoir. There is no water coming from the tail pipe after driving, the engine is running normal though maybe getting worse gas millage than what it did a month or so ago. I did use sea foam roughly 3 weeks ago and then performed an oil change and used a quart of Lucas. I have been unable to find any water on the outside of the water pump and it appears to run behind where the water pump is mounted. any ideas? sorry if questions along these lines get asked a lot.

ADDED: Also there was no water what so ever in the oil when it was changed, the leak was not noticed at that time but I wont say it wasn't there. I left the oil about 1/4 quart below to max fill line and it still appears there as well.

Last edited by boboyobo; 03-11-2014 at 11:09 PM. Reason: added info
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  #2  
Old 03-12-2014, 01:08 AM
Ranger01 Ranger01 is offline
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Any coolant on the passenger floorboard ?
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  #3  
Old 03-12-2014, 03:08 AM
Plow Plow is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

Have you looked, from underneath passenger side, at the third bolt up on the timing chain cover?
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  #4  
Old 03-12-2014, 05:19 AM
boboyobo boboyobo is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

There doesn't appear to be any on the passenger floor board. Also I'll check again on that bolt, but there was one particular bolt with water around it.
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  #5  
Old 03-12-2014, 05:48 AM
tomboy tomboy is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

Theres a freeze plug in the end of the head, might be from there.
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  #6  
Old 03-12-2014, 05:51 AM
96_4x4_XLT 96_4x4_XLT is offline
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Default

been having a lot of coolant issues lately lol

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by boboyobo View Post
I have a 2004 3.0 that is losing coolant. The front (closest to fan) of the passenger side exhaust manifold appears to be staying damp. The water runs from roughly from there down. I have visually seen no water drip from that area but have seen it drip from random other areas, one of which I identified as an ac line. I however have noticed a loss of coolant in my reservoir. There is no water coming from the tail pipe after driving, the engine is running normal though maybe getting worse gas millage than what it did a month or so ago. I did use sea foam roughly 3 weeks ago and then performed an oil change and used a quart of Lucas. I have been unable to find any water on the outside of the water pump and it appears to run behind where the water pump is mounted. any ideas? sorry if questions along these lines get asked a lot. ADDED: Also there was no water what so ever in the oil when it was changed, the leak was not noticed at that time but I wont say it wasn't there. I left the oil about 1/4 quart below to max fill line and it still appears there as well.
start with lookin through the engine compartment and seeing if you can find a leak anywhere

if not your proly burning it so you would most likely have a CEL so see if you can pull any codes
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  #7  
Old 03-12-2014, 07:26 AM
pearlkid9988 pearlkid9988 is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

The 3.0l is notorious for timing cover gaskets mine would leak on the passenger side and run down the header and made it hard to find the source so check the cover from the bottom of the truck and see it will look like damp grease unless your motor is super clean mine took a while to find and it gives no other symptoms than a few drops in the driveway after a long drive and it doesn't necessarily look like it was leaking thats what made it so hard to find.
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  #8  
Old 03-12-2014, 08:09 AM
rangerlocal rangerlocal is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

X2 on the timing cover gasket. It could be leaking at the front of the engine and getting blown over the exhaust manifold by the fan.
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  #9  
Old 03-14-2014, 05:45 AM
justin murphy justin murphy is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

My leak was the timing cover gasket as well. Completely shot in like 5 places. Had 3 leaks.
Go ahead and do the timing belt and sprocket too. Mine had at lot of play in it at 133k miles. Was only another 25.00 in parts.
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  #10  
Old 03-14-2014, 06:00 AM
rangerlocal rangerlocal is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

There is no timing belt. It's a chain. And usually doesn't require replacement; most people report it's fine after replacing the cover gasket after 200k miles.
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  #11  
Old 03-14-2014, 12:28 PM
pearlkid9988 pearlkid9988 is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

I would still look at the chain while your in there mine had a good bit of slop in it at 150k and for the $25 bucks in extra parts why not its already apart makes it easier than having to do it again later.
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  #12  
Old 03-14-2014, 01:06 PM
bigfrankt bigfrankt is offline
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Default Re: Losing Coolant

Check the Thermostat Housing. Seems counter intuitive, but that's exactly what caused my leak which manifested itself in a similar manner.
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