Burning coolant problem

**jwestra** · 01-17-2010, 08:31 PM

Hello,

Alright so i took a trip to a friends house a while ago my truck always gets really good gas mileage (20mpg) and on the way there and back it took more than a tank and it usually takes about a half tank.

Then my truck sat for a while and i was going to drive it to town and right after i left it started to overheat reall bad and was burning coolant so i went home and pulled the plugs and just one on the drivers side back was wet with coolant.

So far i have taken the intake off and and the back two ports of the back of the lower intake look like they have coolant in them. Now im just wondering if that could be the lower intake gasket or a headgasket? it really burned ALOT of coolant when it really overheated, i mean i had a big white cloud following me.

Thanks,
Jacob

BRUTUS_T_HOG · 01-17-2010, 08:43 PM

sounds like the intake started leaking. you're already far enough to just remove the cylinder heads and replace the head gaskets while you're there.

monsterchuck · 01-17-2010, 09:30 PM

I agree, you've done half the work already to get to the headgaskets, and you overheated it pretty badly, so even if it was just a lower intake leak, you may have blown a headgasket right there. Besides, do you want to have to take it apart twice?

kwikerness · 01-17-2010, 09:45 PM

How many miles do you have on your engine?? it's a good idea to have the head checked too. Chances are good your head gasket blew. I'm sure there's a good machine shop with a great rep somewhere nearby. Have them pressure test and resurface the head. Should run anywhere from $90 - $125.00 per head. You'll be glad you did!

If you reassemble yourself
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech.../4_0_Page.html

**jwestra** · 01-18-2010, 12:20 PM

Its just that i replaced the heads and headgaskets and everything a year ago. The head were fluxed, everything redone and good. Thats why i dont know if i should pull the heads or not because it doesnt make sence for it to have a blown headgasket already. Its just the drivers side back port that seemed to have coolant in it.

Also the lower intake bolts seemed to be a little loose

Thanks,
Jacob

kwikerness · 01-18-2010, 08:12 PM

YIKES!!

That's not what I want to hear because it's the exact same issue I had in the exact same place that caused me to tear down and rebuild.
Hope nothing else happens from here. 145,000 miles and counting.

01-17-2010, 08:31 PM	#1
jwestra Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: stevens point Year: 1994 Make: ford Model: ranger Engine: 5.0 Class: sasd on 35s Used For: DD and ofroading Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	Burning coolant problem Hello, Alright so i took a trip to a friends house a while ago my truck always gets really good gas mileage (20mpg) and on the way there and back it took more than a tank and it usually takes about a half tank. Then my truck sat for a while and i was going to drive it to town and right after i left it started to overheat reall bad and was burning coolant so i went home and pulled the plugs and just one on the drivers side back was wet with coolant. So far i have taken the intake off and and the back two ports of the back of the lower intake look like they have coolant in them. Now im just wondering if that could be the lower intake gasket or a headgasket? it really burned ALOT of coolant when it really overheated, i mean i had a big white cloud following me. Thanks, Jacob
	Tweet

01-17-2010, 08:43 PM	#2
BRUTUS_T_HOG Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rainier, OR Year: 89 Make: Ford Model: Ranger S Engine: 2.3L Class: 2WD Street Used For: everything Posts: 1,999 Rep Power: 18 iTrader: (0)	sounds like the intake started leaking. you're already far enough to just remove the cylinder heads and replace the head gaskets while you're there.
	Tweet

01-17-2010, 09:30 PM	#3
monsterchuck Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Year: 1999.5 Make: Volkswagen Model: Golf Engine: Compression-ignition Used For: Prius-shaming fuel mileage Posts: 140 Rep Power: 7 iTrader: (0)	I agree, you've done half the work already to get to the headgaskets, and you overheated it pretty badly, so even if it was just a lower intake leak, you may have blown a headgasket right there. Besides, do you want to have to take it apart twice?
	Tweet

01-17-2010, 09:45 PM	#4
kwikerness New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Year: 2002 Make: Ranger Model: XLT 4x4 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	How many miles do you have on your engine?? it's a good idea to have the head checked too. Chances are good your head gasket blew. I'm sure there's a good machine shop with a great rep somewhere nearby. Have them pressure test and resurface the head. Should run anywhere from $90 - $125.00 per head. You'll be glad you did! If you reassemble yourself http://www.therangerstation.com/tech.../4_0_Page.html Last edited by kwikerness; 01-17-2010 at 09:53 PM. Reason: added link
	Tweet

01-18-2010, 12:20 PM	#5
jwestra Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: stevens point Year: 1994 Make: ford Model: ranger Engine: 5.0 Class: sasd on 35s Used For: DD and ofroading Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	Its just that i replaced the heads and headgaskets and everything a year ago. The head were fluxed, everything redone and good. Thats why i dont know if i should pull the heads or not because it doesnt make sence for it to have a blown headgasket already. Its just the drivers side back port that seemed to have coolant in it. Also the lower intake bolts seemed to be a little loose Thanks, Jacob Last edited by jwestra; 01-18-2010 at 12:25 PM.
	Tweet

01-18-2010, 08:12 PM	#6
kwikerness New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Year: 2002 Make: Ranger Model: XLT 4x4 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	YIKES!!That's not what I want to hear because it's the exact same issue I had in the exact same place that caused me to tear down and rebuild. Hope nothing else happens from here. 145,000 miles and counting.
	Tweet

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode