97 Expedition XLT: Overheating but heater blow hot air ?!?

[SlabPlox]

hi, i have a overheating issue with my 97 XLT with a 4.6L. been searching for some day now, found a coolant leak from the back of the engine wich seem like the heater line that pass under the intake. i see coolant drip from under the truck but cant see anything from inside the hood. i plan on removing the whole intake and changing both heater hose and doing the intake gasket next week.

what really pose me problem is the truck is overheating after only a short drive. when i check in the coolant reservoir i still have coolant and the heater blow hot but do smell like coolant.

what could be the problem? if the heater was blowing cold it may surely be a thermostat issue but right now im really not sure its thermostat related. could it be? anywhere else i should look?

 

[l1j2h]

Hi friend,
I had the same experience before.
I changed the intake gasket, but my problem was the heater core.
First, i recommend that you try to smell the coolant in your car.
Sometimes you cannot see, but see careful about the right corner of the trim of the driver. You can see the small hole... I think so.
I changed the heater core and intake gasket before.
It is not bad....

 

[SlabPlox]

i will check for the heater core, but im pretty sure its not the core fault cause coolant leak from behind the engine and not inside the truck.

im looking foward to lift the whole intake to replace intake gasket and the heater hose as well as doing plugs and cleaning the TB/iac/pcv valve.

what do i need for this job? other than intake and TB gaskets?

 

[l1j2h]

when I replaced the intake gasket, I also changed the spark plugs, thermostat, thermostat o-ring and intake gasket.

It is easy and very cheap.

 

[stamp11127]

Overheating causes:
Low coolant
Clogged radiator
Blocked radiator - check for trash inbetween rad and condenser
Missing fan shroud - causes poor airflow through rad
Failed/failing water pump
Slipping serp belt not turning wp fast enough
Failed fan clutch
Air in cooling system
Failed head gasket - (pukes coolant out of surge tank)
Improper coolant - just using water instead of the mix
Soft rad hoses - collapses under suction

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

your heater core leak will NOT be inside the truck, it will leak out at the ac condensate drain. I know from experience on this one. http://i.imgur.com/GfUccSO.jpg the core and evap core are right beside each other.