Attention 2012 Owners - Coolant Spillage

[SaintsFan]

After reading GJMcManus' thread about the coolant leak he experienced due to a faulty hose clamp, I opened the hood of my two-week-old Raptor and sure enough, there is some spilled coolant near the top of the radiator, on the top corner of the air filter housing and a few other spots. A flashlight revealed some dripage down the side of the radiator and on the underside of the skip plate as well. None has actually leaked out onto the ground yet. I noticed the coolant resavoir is over-filled by about a quarter of an inch with the engine cold. I can't tell for sure where its coming from, but the hose clamp appears to be fine. So you 2012 owners might want to check under the hood as this could be common issue.

 

[Humvee21]

Thanks. I'll take a look when I see it Sunday. I miss it

 

[Quicksand]

That sucks dude. Sorry to hear that.

Im starting to wonder if the production line was pressured to get trucks built quickly last quarter and messed up on a host of "rush build" sections of the truck. Hopefully this was corrected for all 1/12 builds.

Im only saying the above after seeing a lot of complaints so far on basic items with the Raptor within the first two weeks of ownership.

On a vehicle thats been in production with minor changes the last 4 years....the kinks should be out. Thats another reason I wait to buy late model vehicles aside from the RS4....and it had a leak the first week so I said "never again".

I just hope the Torsen holds up over time...probably will bc its a TORSEN! Cant believe Im saying all this. Now to help solve the leak......

When my SRT was supercharged the metal coolant cap had coolant spilage over the sides + some blew on my SC. It pissed me off to say the least. haha.

I had an 18lb metal cap fom the factory covering the hot section coolant resevoir. I figured it was the added pressure of the SC mixed with the factory cap not strong enough making coolant come out.

I went to Pepboys and bought a 20lb cap instead, screwed right on like oem....and the coolant leakage stopped!

Hopefully its a fluke or something like the above. Prbably not a fluke since so many others had this issue. What about '11 owners ie did they have the same issue?

*Please keep us posted. I take delivery next week and making an almost 1K drive, solo, from the dealer lot (90% desolate driving and winter conditions) and I want this checked before I leave the lot.

PS-it could just be overfilled....I hope.

 

[Hocker52]

I have a 2011 the only issues I have had were the LED's in the 3rd brake light went out and an actuator in the dash preventing the drivers side vents from getting warm. No leaking fluids though.

 

[SaintsFan]

It was not a big spill. I only reason I noticed it was because I was looking specifically for it with a flashlight after reading the other thread. I wiped it up, siphoned the coolant resavoir level down to within the proper range and adjusted the small rubber hose connected to the radiator just below the cap and we'll see if that takes care of it.

 

[Quicksand]

I have a 2011 the only issues I have had were the LED's in the 3rd brake light went out and an actuator in the dash preventing the drivers side vents from getting warm. No leaking fluids though.

Thanks. I imagine it was overfill possibly during PDI best case. But why did this happen on other 2012's? Again, I just hope its something minor and/or its been resolved by Ford prior to mine being built. *Will find out next week.

PS-were any of the leaks noticed after romping the 6.2?

 

[Squatting Dog]

Thanks. I imagine it was overfill possibly during PDI best case. But why did this happen on other 2012's? Again, I just hope its something minor and/or its been resolved by Ford prior to mine being built. *Will find out next week.

PS-were any of the leaks noticed after romping the 6.2?

I noticed mine at lunch time parked on a slight uphill grade idling for about 15 minutes. The coolant ran across the top of the block and down around bellhousing. So there was a puddle under transmission, causing me to freak out. Luckily it was a $0.50 hose clamp, instead of a transmission.

-Greg

 

[SaintsFan]

I'm pretty sure mine leaked at the hose/tube connection on the right side of the radiator cap. It appeared this hose/tube was about half way off . Is there a reason why there is no clamp on this connection? I put a zip tie on it for the time being.

 

[andypick]

Hey I've noticed leaking on my 2 week old 2012 as well. I can't pinpoint the location as of yet, but I see steam pooring out of an area near the top of the radiator. I could also smell it, but thought maybe it was just burn-off from the new engine.. The pattern I've noticed seems to be after extended 4x4 Hi runtime. We've had a good spell of snow around here so I've been doing this freaquently. My coolent also seemed high and I wonder if they over-filled during vehical prep. My temp gauge is right at the mid point covering most of the temp icon. Hmmm. I don't see any fluid on the garage floor, so it's likely small amounts.

Possibilities...
1) Radiator leak.
2) Radiator loose fitting leak.
3) Too much coolent.
4) Transmission coolent leak?? Not sure how likely this is.

Andrew

 

[jlauth]

I think its a trans cooler leak boys but im not sure. Mine dripped and i did a little taste test, and it seemed like an ATF to me not coolant, but now all of these fluids are red so who knows. I was going to look for a assembly drawing of the cooling systems for trans and diffs and engine, but havent yet. I didnt lose much so i just did a fix by myself. Sliding the tube back on with the stock clamp helped, but it would still weep a bit.

Here are pics of where mine leaked and my fix...i put a small hose clamp before the stock clamp. The clamp with the blue paint is the one that was half off the barb and leaked...it would puddle below on the end cap of the radiator.


you can see the radiator cap in the bottom right corner of this pic

front view...with my added hose clamp to the left of the leaky oem clamp


---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 PM ----------

I'm pretty sure mine leaked at the hose/tube connection on the right side of the radiator cap. It appeared this hose/tube was about half way off . Is there a reason why there is no clamp on this connection? I put a zip tie on it for the time being.

There should be a clamp...please see my pictures and go check yours again...i would get a real hose clamp like i added. much tighter fit than oem and a zip tie