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**merlot4** · Mar 22, 2025, 08:44 AM

Smedley, I'm sorry you're having this issue, leaks can be tough to pin down, but I think you might have found the problem. Here is a page of past contributors that have found solutions. I hope this helps!
https://www.thunderbirdnest.com/foru...ant+tank%22%7D

**007Cruiser** · Mar 22, 2025, 09:58 AM

You might want to look at that tank when the engine is warm. It could be expanding then and exposing the leak.

**BillyL** · Mar 22, 2025, 10:20 AM

If not the tank, it could be the purge valve/ rubber hose attached to the degas tank. There are several aftermarket tanks available including some all metal ones. Best advice, if not able to source an OEM part, is to stay away from the Dorman products as they simply are unreliable and do not last. I would change the tank, connecting rubber hoses, and the purge valve just to be safe. All these rubber and plastic parts are starting to deteriorate and fail after 20 plus years, if they have made it that long. Mine did not!
If all else fails, have your shop do a pressure test w/ dye leak test on the coolant system to troubleshoot the system. I also requested the test after the repairs to assure fix.
Good to see you back on the forum and let us know what you find.

**Brad** · Mar 25, 2025, 09:26 PM

Step 1 Pressure test with UV dye. Here's my video on the topic

**Elky64** · Mar 26, 2025, 07:04 AM

Here's a report of my experience in '21...so far the part has held up, but I'm only a 1000 mi a year user.
[QUOTE=Elky64;n1097576]A few weeks ago, I replaced the coolant Reservoir(AKA: coolant recovery tank or Degas bottle) on my '04.Not a technically hard job, just tedious.
It had been leaking a bit for a while and I had to top up coolant a couple of times, as well as sop up a wet garage floor. I had flushed coolant a year or so ago and so didn't want to loose more. I used Zerex G-5 coolant which is Ford approved. I had some extra premixed up .
You have to remove the wiper arms, and the valence that covers the wiper motor and the area in front of the windshield. Also need to remove the cross brace between the shock towers. The hardest part of the job, is working off the factory hose clamp behind the engine, along the fire wall. If you place a clean large drain pan under this area, you can catch most of the coolant that will come out, maybe 2 qts or so.
I bought the tank from Rock Auto. the medium priced one with a new hose and pressure cap included.(SKP SK603207). I can see where others have had problems with these non Ford parts as the plastic is not as thick as OEM, in my amature opinion. Also some one is making a welded up aluminum piece. I guess I'll find out. Cost with shipping was a little under $50.
This took around an hour. I could see where if I did it often, we might be talking around a half hour. Especially if I was working flat rate. Do they still do that??
HaHaHa! I'm going to upload a pic of the tank. The white marks are where it was leaking.

**Elky64** · Mar 26, 2025, 07:09 AM

I should add,
Prior to this, I had replaced the thermostat and housing, which also leaked and that's why I had fresh antifreeze mentioned above. I did not use the Motorcraft part at the time and the replacement part I used is also still fine.
I should note on my car. I could see the leaks by telltale white dried residue along the cracks or leak area. I know from other good friends on other types of cars who are non-mechanical that there is a big resistance to periodically changing antifreeze/coolant as a unnecessary expense. But I found that $20-$40 every three or four years prevents a lot of other problems because the antifreeze while still working does start holding contamination. Just my humble opinion.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your problem. My car is a '04 melot with appx 94000mi.

**03TEEBIRD** · Mar 28, 2025, 06:30 AM

I am having my degas bottle replaced, thermastat housing and the metal coolant tub replaced because of leaks.

**GTO6** · Mar 28, 2025, 08:38 AM

17431725476422744222408849835911.jpg If everything else fails and you can not come up with the leak back in the day Ford developed some seal tabs or stop leak pellets specifically for this situation part# WSS-M99B37-B6 they are in the workshop manual.
I don't know if they are still available.
When I bought my 04 as soon as I got home I could smell the sweet antifreeze, obiosly I knew there had to be a leak somewhere but I couldn't find it, I had already retired so the Auto Repair Shop was gone so I took it to a friend's shop, nothing came up I could still smell it after a long trip, I started doing some research and these cars run way too hot I managed to rig up a 180 degree thermostat and used the SCT Tunner to set the radiator coolant fan, I could not find the Ford pellets but then I remembered we used the AC Delco 10-108 (12378255) back in the 90s in the Cadillac Northstart engine they are still availabl, I used them.

My car know runs at around 197 to 203 Fahrenheit in the South Florida weather.
Don't ask me where that leak was because I never found it, it's been almost 3 years and no problems
I use my car as a daily driver.

**merlot4** · Mar 28, 2025, 12:22 PM

[QUOTE=GTO6;n1115872]17431725476422744222408849835911.jpg If everything else fails and you can not come up with the leak back in the day Ford developed some seal tabs or stop leak pellets specifically for this situation part# WSS-M99B37-B6 they are in the workshop manual.
I don't know if they are still available.
I could not find the Ford pellets but then I remembered we used the AC Delco 10-108 (12378255) back in the 90s in the Cadillac Northstart engine they are still availabl, I used them.
/QUOTE]

Thanks for adding the info, Jose! Here are the AC Delco ones on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-10-10...ps%2C50&sr=8-1

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Leaking Coolant.....again

Leaking Coolant.....again

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