• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Ranger 2.9l using coolant


88 XLT Ranger

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
357
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Age
61
Location
Pollock Pines Ca
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
2.9L
Transmission
Automatic
"The saga of coolant loss"


I got an issue of my Ranger is using coolant I got a nice overflow tank. I had no issues until it got cold I went to use my heater no heat. I back flushed the heater core nice flow and heat after that. Now it seams to be loosing about 1/2 inch of coolant from the overflow tank each time I drive it. I does not overheat I checked all hoses and pressure checked the system and radiator cap all pass no issues. I checked the heater core drain tube that goes through the firewall nothing of a leak there eather. Any ideas of the coolant loss?
 


Joined
Nov 6, 2017
Messages
65
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Desamparados, San José, Costa Rica
Vehicle Year
1995
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Manual
Possible head gasket leak?, have you checked compression?, is white smoke visible out the exhaust?.

Enviado desde mi PRA-LX2 mediante Tapatalk
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
TRS Technical Advisor
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
25,363
Reaction score
8,369
Points
113
Location
canada
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Transmission
Manual
Check Overflow hose, I had a crack in mine and it was losing coolant there, and of course only AFTER engine/coolant was hot so it evaporated fairly quickly, no sign of a leak

Also remove rad cap after engine has cool down fully, coolant level should be at the very top, thats the point of the Overflow tank system, keeps rad topped up at cool down, if overflow hose has a leak it will suck some air back into rad and coolant level won't be at the very top

A pressure test should have shown a leak in head gasket or cracked head issue
 
Last edited:

88 XLT Ranger

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
357
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Age
61
Location
Pollock Pines Ca
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
2.9L
Transmission
Automatic
Check Overflow hose, I had a crack in mine and it was losing coolant there, and of course only AFTER engine/coolant was hot so it evaporated fairly quickly, no sign of a leak

Also remove rad cap after engine has cool down fully, coolant level should be at the very top, thats the point of the Overflow tank system, keeps rad topped up at cool down, if overflow hose has a leak it will suck some air back into rad and coolant level won't be at the very top

A pressure test should have shown a leak in head gasket or cracked head issue
Thank you Ron

That was the issue the overflow hose I would have never thought that was the issue. I noticed tiny bubbles coming from inside the tank after shutting it off. As it was doing this I took and put pressure on the hose around the fitting below the radiator cap it stopped. It was sucking air around the hose I cut about 1/2 off put it back on real tight fit. No more tiny bubbles or loss of coolant. I thought it was the heater core but than again you would smell the antifreeze burning or fogging of the windshield. Also I can see little white water spot stains on the shroud beside the overflow hose with my ultra violate light. This forum is awesome with help from high tech guy's like you
 

IIBRONCOS

Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2017
Messages
134
Reaction score
11
Points
18
Location
AZ
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Automatic
RonD is the man !! And he is just one of the many tech guys to learn from here.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top