I AM COMPLETELY STUMPED!!!! lets go all u master techs

[dugga4life]

i have a 94 ranger xl 4.0 4x4 man. trans... i just did a head job, new gaskets from the heads up and lapped valves yes i had the heads tested, and ever since my temp gauge goes crazy somtimes it will stay normal and somtimes it will jump up to the L on normal and goes back down.... and the weird part is after driving for about 20 min my heater hose pulsates sonds like someone is kicking the firewall inside the cab??? i replaced the waterpump, thermastate, fan clutch, radiator&cap. i dont get it...i used to get 300 miles to a tank now i get 175 maybe 200, and i lost horsepower,,,, i really need help on this one its a old truck but in good shape any advice is appreciated jesse wells

 

[freerider6_9]

Do a compresion/leakdown test

 

[doorgunner]

air lock in water jacket/heater core....can really do bizarre things.....or........wrong head gaskets/did you compare the holes in the newhead gaskets to the holes in the old gaskets??????....."L" ??????

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

air lock in water jacket/heater core....can really do bizarre things.....or........wrong head gaskets/did you compare the holes in the newhead gaskets to the holes in the old gaskets??????....."L" ??????

normaL. as in getting warm.

i also vote for trapped air.

you need to run the heater on high while filling the radiator. when the thermostat opens it will suck the coolant down so after that happens fill it to the top and put the cap on. don't let it get too hot or it will spill out

 

[jhammel85]

+1 on the trapped air. Burp it out and see if it helps

 

[Black2000Ranger]

Did you install your thermostat upside down? Sounds like air pockets, been there done that with 3.0...

 

[Duane867]

Bleed the coolant system for air. 1st take down your personal phone number though.
NEVER list you number openly on any public forum.

 

[Ranger44]

Bleed the system then check to see if your ECT sensor is plugged in, or damaged in any way.

 

[Jspafford]

The stock guage is junk. When removing the sending unit and wiring you could have caused it to read funny. Or it could be from air in the lines, or both.

I am leaning towards air in your cooling system.

I removed your phone number. If you want to give it to someone, please PM them. Keeps people from calling for other reasons...

 

[doorgunner]

It took me 20 minutes of refilling with coolant/water to get all the air outta my '89 2.9L V-6......when the temp would run hot....I'd spay the front of the radiator to cool the engine down until all the air burped outta the fill spout...wet & aggravating....lol

 

[dugga4life]

thanks for the advice on the phone number,,,,, ya i have heard alot on the airp pockets in these engines, being the radiator sits higher the the block makes it that much harder,, any tips on getting the air pockets out,,, and could air pockets cause it to do all the symptoms i listed?

 

[dugga4life]

im not familiar with the whole spayed thing?

 

[dugga4life]

even though its not leaking any coolant and the resevoir is always full, could it be maybe a head gasket even though i changed them about 7 months ago, or could it be a radiator cap not venting?

 

[Duane867]

He meant to type "spray".

You definitely have air trapped in there. The easiest way to bleed most systems is to buy a flush valve that comes in a flush kit and flush it at the heater core or bypass hose via the valve.

 

[short bus]

Did you reuse the head bolts? If so you may have a gasket issue after you ran it for a wile. I did the same thing on many motor rebuilds to save money till the bolts on one motor didnt stay tight and the gasket started to leak. The easy way to burp the water is cut the heater hose at it highest point and put in a flush T real cheap and easy