Strange Gurgling sound & Heater noise

[hoffman88]

I have a gurgling sound coming from my dash when i start my car. It is only audible when i have my music off. The truck runs great and no drop in RPM's or increase in RPM's. Is it possible i have old/low coolent and that is making the sound... or air in the cooling system..


Also, when ever my heater is on a hear a loud tick sound come from the front of the truck, heat blows great, but it is very easily heard when the heater is turned to on...

[fordtrucksonly]

What Year/Model? Checked the level?

[hoffman88]

F150 2001 xlt 5.4l v8

[fordtrucksonly]

Sounds like a bad heater core. Smell any coolant?

[sandman65]

Whenever I have heard gurgling sounds coming from the heater system, it was a prelude to a blown head gasket.

[RahX]

It could be just air in the cooling system. If it hasn't been opened and bled air is easily trapped in there.

[Blue)(Fusion]

I'm not familiar with the F-150 heater cores but if it's like mine, there is no heater valve, therefore whether you have heat on or not, coolant is going to flow through it. I'd suspect air in the system. I find the only way to purge the modular engines (4.6 and 5.4) is to remove the heater core hose from that extends from the intake manifold to the heater core (on the firewall side ONLY). Remove the t-stat housing and t-stat and the coolant should be topped off to the top of the t-stat housing. Re-install everything as it was before, and run engine with degas tank open and, if possible, on an incline (nose-high). Run until t-stat opens fully (normal operating temp), shut down, top off, and close the degas tank and drive. Inspect afterwards and top off as needed. This always purges all of the air out of my system.