Search Forum
Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
Locked
12
12
Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
 
|
Hi everyone
What I thought was a leaking power steering line has turned out to be a leaking trans cooler line. From what I can tell, there is a connection from a hose coming from the trans cooler to the line which has been clamped and when under pressure, the fluid is leaking from there, down some lines and onto the steering box (which is what initially led me to think it was power steering fluid). Anyway, the following pics are in sequence from the cooler to where the lines run parallel to the frame rails going back to the transmission. After looking at the blow apart diagrams on this site, I can't seem to determine what I need as the coolers in those diagrams look different to what I have. Also - I have a 4 core aluminum radiator - could that be why a factory steel line was not used to the existing line? If so, what are my options? Buy all new Ford parts and work my way forward from the lines at the trans connection all the way to the front mount cooler? The cooler itself is not leaking, but every time I've tried to make a double-flared line I've failed and spent a lot of time doing it!       As always, any insight is appreciated. Thanks.
1985 Ford F150, 2WD.
351 H.O Windsor, aluminum heads Cam: Lift = .496''/.520'' Duration @ .050: 224°/234° C6 Transmission 6" Rough Country Lift 33x12.5x15 BF Goodrich All-Terrains 15x10" Pro Comp Rims |
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
Banned User
|
Yes, the aftermarket radiator is the reason the hard lines aren't screwed into it.
In the 90s, Ford simply clamped a short rubber hose to the straight-cut steel tubing between the O2A cooler & the return line, just behind the front bumper. It usually leaks after a decade or 2, but it's cheap to replace with modern "ATF cooler" rubber hose, which is improved & less-likely to leak.  So I'd just cut off the unneeded factory flared ends (FAR back from the flares, so you can save those ends in case you ever need to put them back on) and clamp on some new rubber hose. I'd also add an external filter, as Ford recommends. 
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Banned User
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Banned User
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Well, at least there's one fewer layer on the onion now, and you are one ring closer to having a Bloomin' Onion.
 Cooling system leaks appear to be "the thing" at the mo. Our daughter, who is living with us currently, called yesterday just as Sunday school class was starting. The 2001 Subaru had overheated and she had stopped on the way to meet us there. It is only a mile home, so I went back to get her and we left the car. After church, when it had cooled down, I filled it up w/water and drove it home. It didn't leak until it got up to operating temp and the pressure came up. At that point the upper plastic tank started leaking where it was supposed to be sealed to the aluminum core, and steam started rising. The new $68 radiator will be in tomorrow.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile
Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Banned User
|
In some cases the Aluminum can simply be crimped back onto the tank without any other work. Mine lasted another ~3 years before the tank itself cracked in a different area. 
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|
Steve - I thought of trying to stake the crimps, but they aren't easily accessible. And by the time you get to all of them you have the radiator ready to come out. But for $68 and 2-day delivery for a car that my daughter and grandtwins ride in that became a no-brainer.
Bill - That kind of information tells me that my days of buying plastic/aluminum radiators is over. Assuming, of course, that an all-aluminum one is available. And that's not the case for the Subie. 
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile
Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
|
Re: Leaking Trans Cooler Lines
|
Administrator
|