Bad To Worse Coolant Leak From Timing Cover 2.9L V6

[wildbill23c]

Thought I was making progress on the Ranger it was running good after the IAC replacement, took it out on a drive today and pulled off the highway to a rest area got out and I had coolant pouring out from under the truck. Thought at first the water pump, but it looks like it is coming from the timing cover....what causes that?

 

[97RangerXLT]

Thought I was making progress on the Ranger it was running good after the IAC replacement, took it out on a drive today and pulled off the highway to a rest area got out and I had coolant pouring out from under the truck. Thought at first the water pump, but it looks like it is coming from the timing cover....what causes that?

umm 2.9 engines? gotta tag @PetroleumJunkie412 for this and in all fairness, since he does work with the 2.9 quite a bit he may have some more insight for you...

still might be the water pump and the coolant might just be traveling in such a way that it is looking like it is coming from the timing cover. at least a water pump is cheap...

AJ

 

[wildbill23c]

I wouldn't think the water pump would continue to leak long after the truck has been shut off, it has drained all the coolant out of the radiator that I just put in it about 2 hours ago. Something ain't right LOL.

 

[97RangerXLT]

well since the water pump has the big pipe from the lower radiator hooked right up to it... definitely worth looking into it.

AJ

 

[wildbill23c]

Looking into it this week when I get time, doing belts and hoses too since everything has to come apart anyways. Doing the fan clutch while its all apart as well, I don't think the clutch is any good, it spins way too freely to actually be of any use LOL, and looks like it was leaking anyhow.

 

[wildbill23c]

Well its not the water pump, its kind of what I was expecting, the leaking behind the timing cover...so everything has to come off the front of the engine, getting a new water pump and gasket set and put new belts and hoses on. Still having the weird power loss & missing issue randomly as well...I was out on another test drive trying to figure out some of the missing & power issues when I found the coolant pouring out from under the truck . If it ain't one thing its another.

Where do you stop? I mean I own the truck, but where the hell do you stop pouring money into a vehicle that has a great body and interior.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

There's two coolant passages in the timing cover. I have. Photo of it around here somewhere. Some have separate o ring seals, some just rely on the gasket, depends on which version of the 2.9 you have.

Either way, the "stop" point on a vehicle is a personal thing. For me, I'll never give up my 88; doesn't matter to me what it costs / time commitment, but I feel connected to it. Your mileage may vary.

 

[wildbill23c]

There's two coolant passages in the timing cover. I have. Photo of it around here somewhere. Some have separate o ring seals, some just rely on the gasket, depends on which version of the 2.9 you have.

Either way, the "stop" point on a vehicle is a personal thing. For me, I'll never give up my 88; doesn't matter to me what it costs / time commitment, but I feel connected to it. Your mileage may vary.

Anything in particular that causes this failure? Just worn gaskets I assume? Its also getting a new timing set since its all torn apart anyhow, anything else that I should order since I'm in that end of the engine?

I have no idea what version 2.9L it is, I just know its an 87 Ranger, but built in October of 86 if that makes any difference I don't know. I just assumed they were all the same engine LOL.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Anything in particular that causes this failure? Just worn gaskets I assume? Its also getting a new timing set since its all torn apart anyhow, anything else that I should order since I'm in that end of the engine?

I have no idea what version 2.9L it is, I just know its an 87 Ranger, but built in October of 86 if that makes any difference I don't know. I just assumed they were all the same engine LOL.

Actually it may. 86-88 has some German high compression blocks mixed in, the most in 86.

If you do a timing set, put a cloyes in. I learned the hard way that nothing else works well in a 2.9

 

[wildbill23c]

Actually it may. 86-88 has some German high compression blocks mixed in, the most in 86.

If you do a timing set, put a cloyes in. I learned the hard way that nothing else works well in a 2.9

Hmm, I highly doubt I have a high compression anything in this truck LOL, and by the looks of things its just like the 2.9L V6 in my 88 Bronco 2, just a pile of trash that Ford just thought they needed to use, the only good thing in my Ranger I guess would be it has a manual transmission...the engine is just a disaster. So I guess another lesson learned buy a cheap vehicle you win the money pit prize. Yep slow learner should have quit after the Bronco 2 fiasco.