coolant loss around #1 cylinder

[vstarman2010]

hey guys,

not sure if anyone else has had this problem. i have a 2000 expy with the 5.4 triton. about a year ago, the expy experienced a severe loss of power and jerking sensation at around 40-45 mph. i eventually found coolant in the #1 cylinder. i replaced the spark plug, cop and cleared the hole of coolant. i ran a bottle of bars leak through the system thinking i may have a bad head gasket (money was really tight at the time). now, i'm noticing that i have some coolant leaking around the #1 cylinder. there is a connector of some sort that sits just to the right of the $1 cylinder that is secured in place by 3 bolts. 2 are face down and the other is closet to head and goes in from the bottom. i'm noticing coolant leaking from around this area and it pools on top of the intake manifold. i live in alabama so the truck has not been in the severe cold.

any ideas on the coolant loss and what that part is and how to fix the leak??? i'm at a loss. other than that, the truck is still running strong at 173,000 plus miles.

thanks guys

 

[soaknb8]

Newbie here....

I had a similar issue a couple weeks ago and it turned out to be the intake gasket.

 

[masterhacker]

Don't ever put anything for leaks in your vehicle, with antifreeze stop leak there is a good chance you can wreck your heater core (Ive done it) especially in a older vehicle

 

[trdragons44]

It is either and intake gasket or the coolant temp sensor which is the sensor circled green on the left here http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1828/741/4567870450_large.jpg.

 

[districk81]

I have a 2000 EB and finally got it on the road yesterday. its been sitting for 2 years. i did a air to coil spring swap. it rides great the problem is the first time i stopped after about 25 miles i noticed smoke coming from the engine and then smelled engine coolant. after further inspection i found the leak it is in the very front of the engine on the left (passenger) side there on the intake it looks like the front part of it, its metal not plastic i think its aluminum, any way its the only part of the intake that is metal and its up there in the very front. The right hand side is were the thermostat is located then it goes back behind the the alternator and the alt is actually bolted to it then it goes over to the left hand side and underneath there is were it is spitting out water. the valley is full of water and the fan is blowing water all over every thing on the left hand side. its not real bad like i could still drive it i just stopped every 7 to 10 miles and added water. it never over heated and it never took more than about half a gallon to refill the reservoir. like i said its been sitting for about two years because of the suspension so i just got it and i've never had a ford before. when i first found the leak i was like what the h#$% were is the radiator cap. needless to say i never found it. lol!!! I've talked to a couple guys at some local shops and all tell me that these triton engines with the plastic intakes are notorious for cracking and springing leaks. i thought it was a gasket they said wishful thinking its probably cracked either way its gotta come off. it looks like a h$%R of a job. has anyone else ever had this problem and could they please give me some pointers on it. Also i heard dorman has a good replacement intake and not to buy some pos off of ebay b/c they're trash. im working with a really limited budget so can't i just go get one from a pick a part.

okay its looks like im having the same exact problem as you it is right there at the coolant temp sensor . so what was the problem was it a cracked intake or just a bad gasket

 

[FordandPolaris]

This post is over a year old and I don't know if that particular user is still active here, but I have also heard bad things about the plastic intakes. You can certainly find one from a junkyard, but you don't know the condition of those either. As you said, unfortunately either way that intake is going to have to come off, and more than likely the gasket will have to be replaced anyways.