DANGIT! How long is it safe to drive with a tiny heater core leak?

[Sir William]

Driving home this evening, we started smelling antifreeze. It's sure enough the front heater core as there was virtually no smell with the temp set to 60, but as soon as you start turning the temp up, you get a fairly strong smell. It did start to dissipate after a mile or two, but it was there as even my 5-yr old complained.

I checked all around the floorboard and and console area and saw no indication of leak/dripping, so I assume it's a very tiny pinhole/crack. Also, when we arrived home, I checked the tank under the hood and there was certainly a fair bit of pressure, so it's not losing much coolant for sure.

So the big question is *should* I be OK to drive it for a few days until I can get the parts I need and the time to tackle it? How long have some of you gone with a slight leak? We're scheduled to go out of town tomorrow on about a 300 mile round trip. Any stories, ideas, recommendations, warnings, sagely advice, etc. I can get would be great. Thanks!

 

[crackhead]

Driving home this evening, we started smelling antifreeze. It's sure enough the front heater core as there was virtually no smell with the temp set to 60, but as soon as you start turning the temp up, you get a fairly strong smell. It did start to dissipate after a mile or two, but it was there as even my 5-yr old complained.

I checked all around the floorboard and and console area and saw no indication of leak/dripping, so I assume it's a very tiny pinhole/crack. Also, when we arrived home, I checked the tank under the hood and there was certainly a fair bit of pressure, so it's not losing much coolant for sure.

So the big question is *should* I be OK to drive it for a few days until I can get the parts I need and the time to tackle it? How long have some of you gone with a slight leak? We're scheduled to go out of town tomorrow on about a 300 mile round trip. Any stories, ideas, recommendations, warnings, sagely advice, etc. I can get would be great. Thanks!

You could just bypass it for now. Where do you live and where are you traveling to? Can you survive without heat until you fix it?

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

buy a 5/8 coupler and some clamps. you can leave the core connected but the coupler will help if the core bursts. also. keep some extra coolant with you (about two gallons)

 

[BAD RONALD]

When you are ready to replace the HC read this thread and the pdf cited carefully:

Strong coolant odor - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Watch this invaluable video:

Ford Expedition heater core replacement - YouTube

I was quoted over $1000 for the replacement. This is a DIY job. It did take me a whole weekend.

 

[splintrcel]

It is not too healthy to inhale all that stuff plus it causes all your windows to fog like a b#$%^. It happened to me and i actually drove around with a slight leak for like 2 to three weeks before i realized i had to change the heater core.

 

[toms89]

You can try these temporarily?!

S & G Tool Aid 19780 Hose Clamp Pinching Pliers Set - Amazon.com

I have used them with my boat but never on the expy.

I think fogging up you windows will be you biggest concern running like that. Make sure your coolant is topped off and doesn't get low.

 

[splintrcel]

Just as a side comment, i had another coolant leak in my engine bay at the same time as the heater core so i thought it was a faulty hose in the engine bay and that was the source of my fog. I was sadly wrong

 

[splintrcel]

Your almost just installing the bypass before your trip so you dont have the chance of having an issue. Field fixes are never fun.

 

[Sir William]

Ok, took the trip today. Coolant level was fine and still building pressure, so I wasn't too worried about that. It was sunny so we just left the heat off during the day. A couple times we would get a whiff of antifreeze, but it would quickly dissipate. Then for about 45 minutes, I got a tiny bit of hazing on the lower windshield (from steam I suppose) then that went away. It was colder driving home tonight so we turned the heat on......normal. No smell other than a tiny residual. Heat worked fine, nobody complained. All was normal. Make that make sense!

I'm wondering if maybe the previous owner had put some stop leak type stuff in and it let go then resealed since there could still be some in suspension in the coolant. Either way, I'm still going to replace it, but I don't feel it's as dire a situation, and I can try to do it on my time table when I have a pretty day or two to tear the danged thing apart. Also, I can get the parts from RockAuto and save a couple bucks rather than AutoZone.

 

[Frank McGrath]

Has anyone tried stop leak to seal the heater core? Will it work for a temp fix until I can get the core replaced? I really don't want to use the stop leak, but Its cold.