My wife's dumb husband!

Sultan · 11-06-2011, 09:07 AM

Yesterday my wife's dumb husband checked the coolant level on his 2.9 and drove to a pull a part. The B2 drove great all the way there but after he left the B2 would lose power going up hills. It ran great when it was level. So he thought maybe the gas gauge was wrong and he needed gas. While filling up I looked under the hood and then saw the radiator cap missing. He bought some more coolant and filled it up. The B2 drove perfectly after that.

So the question is why did it loose power when the radiator cap was off?

**superds** · 11-06-2011, 09:12 AM

The nut behind the wheel was loose?

**straycat** · 11-06-2011, 10:33 AM

Would not have lost power form that. I drove my tractor on our property for years with no coolant cap and it never lost power. Some other issue I suppose. I know pwople who drove for miles without a radiator cap to go buy a new one and they never lost power.......

**straycat** · 11-06-2011, 10:38 AM

OOOps....you did not mention about overheating. You said he thought it was a low gas issue. The cap will keep the coolant from spilling out. If hte temp gauge shoots way up then you can damage the motor of course.

Sultan · 11-06-2011, 11:33 AM

It wasn't gas. I watched the temp gauge the whole way which was maybe five to ten miles and it never got warm.

Still stumped....

Captain Ledd · 11-06-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sultan

It wasn't gas. I watched the temp gauge the whole way which was maybe five to ten miles and it never got warm.

Still stumped....

Depends if the temperature sensor was in the coolant, let alone in the hot spot at the upper cylinders and cylinder heads where there was no coolant.

The temperature gauge is merely an average temperature at that spot, and it will vary depending on it's location on the engine. It only measures the coolant temp, not the engine temp.

Sultan · 11-06-2011, 01:15 PM

So when I was going uphill the coolant would drain away from the sensor and then the sensor would tell the computer that is was overheating and kill the power? Is that what you are suggesting?

**jhammel85** · 11-06-2011, 02:13 PM

I did that once with the oil cap. I could not figure out why it wouldn't idle....lol

Make sure you get all the air out of it. Shutting it off without the cap on sucks in air.

Captain Ledd · 11-06-2011, 02:14 PM

Nope, the extra heat in the engine kills the power, and going up hills it was particularly noticeable.

Without any coolant in an area, and under load, those parts (upper cylinders and cylinder heads) will heat up very hot extremely quick. And if it's not pumping coolant past the sensor, it'll never know.

**doorgunner** · 11-06-2011, 07:17 PM

I read an article on cylinderhead heat last night....seems that a 40 degree temp increase in cylinder heads causes a 20 H.P. loss.....now that's noticeable!

tbirdsps · 11-07-2011, 12:59 PM

Nothing seems strange to me anymore. A few years ago I left the oil fill cap off and the engine pinged. I opened the hood, slapped my head and put the cap back on and it has never pinged since.

Ranger Sport Honduras · 11-07-2011, 06:44 PM

Just dont do it again, ok?

11-06-2011, 09:07 AM	#1
Sultan Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sultan, WA Year: 1986 Make: Ford Model: Bronco 2 EB Engine: 2.9 Class: 4x4 Used For: Winter DD Posts: 217 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (0)	My wife's dumb husband! Yesterday my wife's dumb husband checked the coolant level on his 2.9 and drove to a pull a part. The B2 drove great all the way there but after he left the B2 would lose power going up hills. It ran great when it was level. So he thought maybe the gas gauge was wrong and he needed gas. While filling up I looked under the hood and then saw the radiator cap missing. He bought some more coolant and filled it up. The B2 drove perfectly after that. So the question is why did it loose power when the radiator cap was off?
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11-06-2011, 10:33 AM	#3
straycat Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Year: 99, 02 and 06 Make: Ford /Jeeps/Etc Model: 99 Ranger 4.0L 2wd 33x12.5 KO tires. Grand Cherokee 4x4 4.0L Wrangler X 5.7 Hemi 87 Samurai 4x4 Used For: DD and trail rides Posts: 4,956 Rep Power: 28 iTrader: (1)	Would not have lost power form that. I drove my tractor on our property for years with no coolant cap and it never lost power. Some other issue I suppose. I know pwople who drove for miles without a radiator cap to go buy a new one and they never lost power....... __________________ Straycat 99 Ranger XLT 4 door Supercab lifted 2wd 33x12.5x15 KO's on 15x8 AR polished rims Spare 33 KO mounted flat in bed/custom bed extender
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11-06-2011, 10:38 AM	#4
straycat Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Year: 99, 02 and 06 Make: Ford /Jeeps/Etc Model: 99 Ranger 4.0L 2wd 33x12.5 KO tires. Grand Cherokee 4x4 4.0L Wrangler X 5.7 Hemi 87 Samurai 4x4 Used For: DD and trail rides Posts: 4,956 Rep Power: 28 iTrader: (1)	OOOps....you did not mention about overheating. You said he thought it was a low gas issue. The cap will keep the coolant from spilling out. If hte temp gauge shoots way up then you can damage the motor of course. __________________ Straycat 99 Ranger XLT 4 door Supercab lifted 2wd 33x12.5x15 KO's on 15x8 AR polished rims Spare 33 KO mounted flat in bed/custom bed extender
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11-06-2011, 11:33 AM	#5
Sultan Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sultan, WA Year: 1986 Make: Ford Model: Bronco 2 EB Engine: 2.9 Class: 4x4 Used For: Winter DD Posts: 217 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (0)	It wasn't gas. I watched the temp gauge the whole way which was maybe five to ten miles and it never got warm. Still stumped....
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11-06-2011, 01:15 PM	#7
Sultan Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sultan, WA Year: 1986 Make: Ford Model: Bronco 2 EB Engine: 2.9 Class: 4x4 Used For: Winter DD Posts: 217 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (0)	So when I was going uphill the coolant would drain away from the sensor and then the sensor would tell the computer that is was overheating and kill the power? Is that what you are suggesting?
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11-06-2011, 02:13 PM	#8
jhammel85 Capt. Slow Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South NJ Year: 1987 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 2.9 V6 Class: 4X4 Used For: Daily Driver / Off Road from time to time Posts: 3,154 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (3)	I did that once with the oil cap. I could not figure out why it wouldn't idle....lol Make sure you get all the air out of it. Shutting it off without the cap on sucks in air. __________________ -1987 Ranger 4x4- 3" Body Lift, 2.9 V6, A4LD auto, Manual Hubs, Dynomax Super Turbo Exhaust, 30x9.5R15 A/T, 15x8 Cragar Soft 8 Wheels
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11-06-2011, 02:14 PM	#9
Captain Ledd Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Davisburg, Mi. Year: 1984, 1997 Make: Ford Model: Rangers Engine: 302, 2.3 Used For: Literally everything. Posts: 1,666 Rep Power: 18 iTrader: (1)	Nope, the extra heat in the engine kills the power, and going up hills it was particularly noticeable. Without any coolant in an area, and under load, those parts (upper cylinders and cylinder heads) will heat up very hot extremely quick. And if it's not pumping coolant past the sensor, it'll never know. __________________ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits" - Albert Einstein Never give up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hz_s2XIAU 1984 Ranger - std cab, long bed: The Deathtrap 302; T18; D20 Tcase; 6' lift; 4.56 gears; 33' pro comp MT's; Aussie locked rear 1997 Ranger - std cab, short bed: Red Ranger 2.3L; M50D R1; 2wd; 4.56 gears; Explorer 8.8; ARB locker; 235/75R15 AT's (soon to undergo 4x4 conversion )
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11-06-2011, 07:17 PM	#10
doorgunner Lab Rat for V.A. hospital Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Orleans (8' below sea level & sinking) Year: 1989/1936 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Engine: V-8...Carbed/fo-barrel Class: 2WD Street Used For: FUN on a daily basis! Posts: 11,707 Rep Power: 72 iTrader: (0)	I read an article on cylinderhead heat last night....seems that a 40 degree temp increase in cylinder heads causes a 20 H.P. loss.....now that's noticeable! __________________ *******My Stupied Build Thred! http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...ad.php?t=30561***** *All the people who's freedom of speech I fought to defend are now telling me to shut up* ******The Congress that gave me a Machine Gun to kill as many enemy as possible now wants my Winchester Model 1894 because I have PTSD!********
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11-07-2011, 12:59 PM	#11
tbirdsps Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ridgecrest, Ca. Year: 1992 Make: Ford Model: RANGER XLT Posts: 300 Rep Power: 14 iTrader: (0)	Nothing seems strange to me anymore. A few years ago I left the oil fill cap off and the engine pinged. I opened the hood, slapped my head and put the cap back on and it has never pinged since.
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11-07-2011, 06:44 PM	#12
Ranger Sport Honduras Solid Axled yo! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Honduras Year: 1999 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Sport Engine: 2.5 (5spd) Class: SAS 4X4 Used For: Everything and more... Posts: 15,214 Rep Power: 68 iTrader: (1)	Just dont do it again, ok? __________________ click for: Ranger Sport Honduras Level II (My D30 SAS 4WD) Mini Power Stroke (My bro's Crew Cab 4WD Ranger--Slow build) Ranger Militia Cardomain(All the trucks)
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