I have a coolant leak coming from my 1988 f150. I thought it was because of a bad hose, so I replaced the hoses on the top and bottom of the radiator, but it is still dripping. It sort of looks like the liquid is coming from just above where the bottom hose attatches to the engine, but I can't tell exactly where. Any idea where it might be coming from? Cracked engine block, maybe?

Replace the thermostat. If the top hose is cold there is no flow throughout the thermostat. If there is also no heat out of the vents inside the cab then you are low on coolant or the water pump is not working. Most likely a bad thermostat.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

If hoses seem Ok and the clap is tight it may be the Heater Core has sprung a leak, although is leaking outside maybe the line where the hose attaches has a leak.

Could be your water pump.Let me know and I can give you a guide on how to replace.

CAR OVERHEATING FIRST CHECK FOR LOW COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG.IF COOLANT LEVEL IN OVERFLOW JUG LOW REFILL ADD COOLANT BACK TO THE FULL COLD MARK.PUT RADAITOR CAP ON COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG START ENGINE LET IT IDLE UNTIL IT OPERATING TEMPERATURE.MAKE SURE TOP RADIATOR HOSE GETTING HOT WHILE ENGINE WARM UP.IF TOP RADIATOR HOSE DONT GET HOT WHILE ENGINE IDLING YOUR THERMOSTAT COULD BE STUCK CLOSE CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT.IF TOP HOSE IS GETTING HOT.CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAKS CHECK TOP RADIATOR HOSE AND BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE FOR LEAKS.CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR CORES AND PLASTIC SIDE CONTAINERS.IF ALL IS GOOD ENGINE OVERHEATING WHILE IN A LONG TRAFFIC LINE, COOLANT FANS NOT COMING ON.COULD HAVE FAULTY ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OR BLOWN COOLING FAN FUSE OR RELAY.COULD HAVE PCM FAULT.MAKE COOLING FAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND WIRING NOT DAMAGE OR BROKEN.

Do you have any coolant flow thru radiator with cap off?

Is thermostat in correctly?

Do a Combustion Leak Test at radiator or cap,
on gases from coolant. You may have a Head
Gasket going bad

SMOKE UNDER HOOD COULD BE COOLANT LEAK FROM RADIATOR ITSELF OR CHECK FOR LEAKING TOP RADIATOR HOSE AND CHECK FOR LEAKING BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE.LOOK UNDER THE HOOD IF COOLANT BOILING OUT COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG ENGINE OVERHEATING FROM BAD THERMOSTAT OR BAD WATER PUMP.CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAK AT WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE.IF SO WATER PUMP NEED REPLACING.ADD MORE COOLANT UNTIL LEVEL CORRECT.TRY LOCATE LEAK. IF CAR OVERHEATED AND BOILED IT OUT. SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD CAN ALSO BE CAUSED BY LEAKING VALVE COVERS WHICH CAN BE FIRE HAZARD IF OIL LEAKS ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

There are a few connections ports that need to be checked. if you cannot find the leak at these places then that happens at the seal of the water pump. When the water pump seal is bad then time to replace the water pump. Why? it is the same labor for the job. Hope that you don't get overheat. This is happening when your water pump is not turning: broken bearings.

Therefore check these following connections first, sometimes the rubber hoses get deteriorated then the clamps need to be tightened to minimize the leak.
1- Upper hose connect to radiator.
2- Lower hose connect to bottom radiator and engine port that is water pump inlets
3- Over flow hose.
4- 2 Heater hoses coming to the fire walls.
Hope this can help.

these engines are bad about the EGR cooler leaking coolant, EGR Cooler will need replaced.

CAUTION
If the radiator is filled to the top with coolant and the engine is run without the radiator cap in place, the coolant will expand and spill over as the engine warms up.

• Drain some coolant into a clean container until the coolant level is below the thermostat housing.
• Remove the upper radiator hose connection from the thermostat housing.
• Loosen the housing bolts and remove the housing.
• Remove the gasket and scrape it carefully from the surface of the housing and the mounting surface on the engine. If the gasket remains on either of the surfaces, there will probably bea coolant leak after reassembly. Some engines use a rubber O-ring to seal a thermostat housing.
• Compare the size of the thermostat to the old one. They are of different sizes, types, and temperature ratings.
• The temperature rating is stamped on the sensing bulb on the bottom of the thermostat. The temperature bulb faces the block.
• When replacing a thermostat, be sure that the thermostat fits into the groove in the block or outlet housing. If the thermostat is installed upside down, the engine will overheat.
• Install the gasket.
• Reinstall the thermostat housing. Refill the system and run the engine or pressure test to check for leaks.
• When the engine has reached operating temperature make sure the thermostat opens.
• You should be able to see coolant circulating within the radiator.
• Another way of checking thermostat operation is to feel the top of the radiator hose or use a thermometer or multimeter with a temperature probe to confirm that the coolant is warming up.
• If the engine is overheating, but the top hose is still cool to the touch, the thermostat is stuck closed and must be replaced.

NOTE When a paper gasket is used and the recess is in the thermostat housing, it is a good practice to position the thermostat into the recess and glue the gasket to hold it in place. If it falls out of its groove during installation, the outlet housing can be cracked or a coolant leak will result. Before tightening the water outlet housing, try to rock it back and forth to be sure it is flush. Housings are often cracked during this step. let me know if you need more...dc

If you are trying to solve an overheating problem this will not achieve anything, but if just to clean out dirty coolant this is how its done..
When engine is cold !!! with radiator in vehicle.
1/ Remove Top and bottom radiator hoses.
2/ Insert garden hose into bottom hose connection of radiator (Use a rag to help seal the connection) turn on water fully to reverse flush radiator till water comes out of top connection, repeat a couple of times.
3/ Reconnect hose to radiator , fill with clean water only.
4/ Run engine till it reaches normal temperature, then switch off engine and allow to cool.
5/ Remove bottom hose to drain system again, refit hose and refill with a good coolant mixture according to you climate.