89 Ford ranger stx coolant disappearing

[johnv]

So my truck has been kinda going through coolant and not sure where it is going. I had to replace top radiator hose and the pool by the thermostat housing is dry but noticed a lil more by there.

 

[rubydist]

I have had vehicles that had hose leaks that were small enough that the coolant would evaporate and never drip on the ground, so that is a possibility. In that case there are numerous places it could be leaking. And of course it also could be a head gasket leak.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

2.9L im assuming?

Check the oil for signs of coolant.

 

[19Walt93]

Being an 89, I'd get under it with a light and look closely at the freeze plugs and the vent hole on the bottom of the water pump. If you see any seepage from a freeze plug replace all of them, even though it's not a fun job. Some 2.9's and 4.0 ohv's developed hairline cracks in the heads under the valve cover and allowed coolant to slowly leak into the oil. If you don't see any external leaks, I'd remove the valve covers and look. Bars Leaks or something similar might put a bandaid on a crack but it's not worth even trying it on a freeze plug.

 

[johnv]

2.9L im assuming?

Check the oil for signs of coolant.

Yep why?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Personally i wouldnt even use bars leak. Its been known to cause other issues like blocking block passages and making bigger issues

 

[johnv]

Being an 89, I'd get under it with a light and look closely at the freeze plugs and the vent hole on the bottom of the water pump. If you see any seepage from a freeze plug replace all of them, even though it's not a fun job. Some 2.9's and 4.0 ohv's developed hairline cracks in the heads under the valve cover and allowed coolant to slowly leak into the oil. If you don't see any external leaks, I'd remove the valve covers and look. Bars Leaks or something similar might put a bandaid on a crack but it's not worth even trying it on a freeze plug.

I know one of my valve covers is leaking but it's not in the oil yet. That I can tell.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yep why?

2.9L's are notrious for cracking heads. The 89-92 heads are less crack prone then the 86-88's but its still the biggest 2.9's weak point and always the first place i tell people to check on them when they have a 2.9 magically losing coolant

 

[johnv]

2.9L im assuming?

Check the oil for signs of coolant.

I have oil is fine just a bit dirty.

 

[johnv]

2.9L's are notrious for cracking heads. The 89-92 heads are less crack prone then the 86-88's but its still the biggest 2.9's weak point and always the first place i tell people to check on them when they have a 2.9 magically losing coolant

Is it hard to check the head for a leak?

 

[johnv]

Being an 89, I'd get under it with a light and look closely at the freeze plugs and the vent hole on the bottom of the water pump. If you see any seepage from a freeze plug replace all of them, even though it's not a fun job. Some 2.9's and 4.0 ohv's developed hairline cracks in the heads under the valve cover and allowed coolant to slowly leak into the oil. If you don't see any external leaks, I'd remove the valve covers and look. Bars Leaks or something similar might put a bandaid on a crack but it's not worth even trying it on a freeze plug.

I'll have to look when it's cooled off.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I have oil is fine just a bit dirty.

If you dont see milky oil chances are the heads are ok.

 

[johnv]

I have had vehicles that had hose leaks that were small enough that the coolant would evaporate and never drip on the ground, so that is a possibility. In that case there are numerous places it could be leaking. And of course it also could be a head gasket leak.

I get no white smoke in my exhaust and no coolant in the oil.

 

[johnv]

If you dont see milky oil chances are the heads are ok.

There's no milky I do notice a leak in the valve gasket I'm pretty sure

 

[johnv]

2.9L im assuming?

Check the oil for signs of coolant.

What are signs coolant is in the oil?