Heater core inlet hose. You could replace it... the inexpensive quick fix is to carefully cut off that plastic band without damaging the hose, take the hose off and clean the fitting and inside the hose by wiping with a shop rag and reassemble with a new worm clamp.

 

I did mine a couple of years ago, it was a hard job.
I think this is it-

Amazon.com: Motorcraft KH229 Heater Hose Assembly : Automotive

Buy Motorcraft KH229 Heater Hose Assembly: Pre-Heater - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

No, that's not it. It's the engine to heater core(s) hose with a vacuum valve. I'm used to the truck's version; I guess that is a plastic tee added to the hose for a secondary core.

Keith has it right; removing the heat shrink clamp, cleaning the residue, and replacing it with a hose clamp would be the easiest and less expensive option.

 

That is the correct hose for the excursion, some of us like to replace with factory components. The original lasted 20 years.

 

Damn, you're right. I didn't use your link earlier and got a different image using the part number. Sorry.

But I'd still do what Keith stated. The price of a hose clamp over $150.

 

Yea, that would be a lot easier fix, $150 is a lot for the hose, and I had a hell of a time replacing mine. Those connections are buried. On my trip to Florida when I had the bad injector I stopped at Dunn Benson Ford and had my good FICM replaced, I saw the tech bend the degas out of the way and he snapped that plastic wye right off dumping all the elc. Years later when I saw the wye on the other side leaking (like the op) I looked at all the options and ended up replacing it. The old plastic just gets so brittle.

 

Oh yeah, they do. When I replaced my hoses months back I found one of the shrink collars cracked, just waiting.

But these trucks are so much better than the plastic of the Lincoln LS cars, and we have one. At 100k, you have to replace all the plastic in the coolant system, which is extensive, because everything starts to leak.

 

Plastic and under hood heat - the technician's nemesis. Some things break from just looking at them.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Appreciate the help and advice.