2004 Ford Pickup
Mileage
191,306
Service Date
6/2/2026
Services Performed
- C/S WHILE DRIVING ANALOG NEEDLE TO HOT REDUCED POWER CYCLE INITIATED WATER UNDER VEHICLE, TOWED TO SHOP
- Removed water pump and thermostat housing to check for restrictions. Found the thermostat was missing entirely. Attempted to flush the system through the reservoir, but coolant cannot pass through the engine block. The cooling passages are completely obstructed due to an excessive amount of "stop leak" additive from a previous repair attempt. At 191,306 miles, the vehicle has reached an age and mileage where the cost of an engine replacement far exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle. Furthermore, "stop leak" is typically used as a last resort to mask terminal failures, such as a cracked engine block or a blown head gasket. Even if we miraculously cleared the blockage, we would likely inherit the catastrophic failure the additive was meant to hide. Verdict: The vehicle is economically a total loss. Further investment into this powertrain is not financially viable.
CHRIS H. gave our service a 5 star review on 6/3/2026
