'01 Windstar coolant leak, bad radiator?

My 2001 Windstar is loosing coolant, and it appears to be coming from the front, passenger side of the vehicle. I can clearly see some wet coolant running down the bottom of the lower radiator hose. I initially thought that the lower radiator hose was bad, so I replaced it. But the leak was still present. I thought that the hose clamps were loose (and they were a bit loose, to be honest), so I tightened them up and added a second hose clamp on each end of the hose. The leak was still present at the same place, so I rented a pressure tester, which showed that my coolant cap was bad (it only held 4psi), and that one of the heater lines (driver's side at the engine) was leaking, so I repaired the leak and replaced the cap. My system will hold 14psi without any apparent (significant) leaks. But if I let the car sit in the driveway, I always see a wet spot in the same place, and the telltale sign of a half-formed drop of coolant on the bottom of the lower radiator hose. Furthermore, it appears that the coolant trail leads back toward the radiator. I'm guessing that the radiator has a small leak near the lower hose outlet.

Your thoughts?

You just need to look longer and closer. Sometimes it helps to do a "cleaning and inspection" all at once. Then you will surely locate the exact leak. (Your engine and radiator could use some cleaning ....couldn't they? .... thought so.)

I'll grant you I've got a 2000 (not 01) but I'm betting the water pump/hose is quite similar. I'd check the junction between the pump and the hose as it's a location that seems to rust. I had exactly what you describe with the drip a the bottom of the passenger side bottom hose. I replaced the clamps (used 2) as they were rusting but really what was happening was the coolant was leaking out of the top of that same hose at the pump and gravity was taking is down to the front by the rad. I'd bet if you look up there you'll find a leak. I won't tell you how horrible that repair is, and on the 2000 the rigid tube is removable from the pump but pretty solidly stuck in there.

Good luck on your hunt!

I had a massive coolant leak last winter, massive in the sense that I could literally see hot coolant vapors (steam) enter the cabin through the vents. The smell was so overwhelming I had to keep the windows cracked open in order to breathe. This appeared to be originating from the same area, near the passenger side firewall and was dripping on the exhaust manifold.

I could not see exactly where it was coming from so I resigned myself to bring it to the shop but it was late and it was closed so what the heck I tried some of that "pelletized"additive that's supposed to plug leaks. Silver colored stuff, I forget which brand. Wasn't expecting much from this but to my amazement the leak vanished immediately and has not reappeared since. Pressure and level remain normal, and no more hot coolant smell in the cabin.

I'm sure this fix won't last forever but for the time being it works good. Because of the "filler" nature of these products I suspect the leak was not due to a loose clamp but rather to a crack in a tube or fitting.

I had a massive coolant leak last winter, massive in the sense that I could literally see hot coolant vapors (steam) enter the cabin through the vents. The smell was so overwhelming I had to keep the windows cracked open in order to breathe. This appeared to be originating from the same area, near the passenger side firewall and was dripping on the exhaust manifold.

I could not see exactly where it was coming from so I resigned myself to bring it to the shop but it was late and it was closed so what the heck I tried some of that "pelletized"additive that's supposed to plug leaks. Silver colored stuff, I forget which brand. Wasn't expecting much from this but to my amazement the leak vanished immediately and has not reappeared since. Pressure and level remain normal, and no more hot coolant smell in the cabin.

I'm sure this fix won't last forever but for the time being it works good. Because of the "filler" nature of these products I suspect the leak was not due to a loose clamp but rather to a crack in a tube or fitting. If you are talking about a possible coolant leak on the passenger side I would invite you to check the steel tube, attached to the top of the water pump, going in the firewall direction, connecting to the heater hoses; this tube rusted and corroded, causing a coolant leak. I have replaced it on my 2001, 3 years ago and I think it is a regular issue on this model in addition to another steel tube ( also related to the heater system) crossing the top of the engine under the manifold plenum which can also be corroded and cause a coolant leak.

If you are talking about a possible coolant leak on the passenger side I would invite you to check the steel tube, attached to the top of the water pump, going in the firewall direction, connecting to the heater hoses; this tube rusted and corroded, causing a coolant leak. I have replaced it on my 2001, 3 years ago and I think it is a regular issue on this model in addition to another steel tube ( also related to the heater system) crossing the top of the engine under the manifold plenum which can also be corroded and cause a coolant leak.

Thanks. That makes sense and may explain why the additive worked. Come to think of it, it seems to be designed mostly to plug leaks in the radiator and thus would work best on metal parts.

If you are talking about a possible coolant leak on the passenger side I would invite you to check the steel tube, attached to the top of the water pump, going in the firewall direction, connecting to the heater hoses; this tube rusted and corroded, causing a coolant leak. I have replaced it on my 2001, 3 years ago and I think it is a regular issue on this model in addition to another steel tube ( also related to the heater system) crossing the top of the engine under the manifold plenum which can also be corroded and cause a coolant leak.

I've seen numerous posts about the cross-over tube, and this definitely does not apply in my case. And I doubt the issue is coming from the water pump side of the hose, as I was able to stuff a shop rag around the water pump intake pipe and leave it there for a couple of days while driving. The rag was dry when I removed it, which means that my leak is either further down the intake pipe or at/near the radiator side.

I've seen numerous posts about the cross-over tube, and this definitely does not apply in my case. And I doubt the issue is coming from the water pump side of the hose, as I was able to stuff a shop rag around the water pump intake pipe and leave it there for a couple of days while driving. The rag was dry when I removed it, which means that my leak is either further down the intake pipe or at/near the radiator side.

Should it be the radiator itself then perhaps you should try the anti-leak additive and see if the puddle on the driveway goes away. If it does then you could either choose to leave it alone for now, or purchase a surplus radiator from a junkyard. Without the fans they are dirt-cheap and usually carry a warranty.