Loosing coolant? 95 Ranger 2.3l

[bmtrnavsky]

I'm losing coolant in my 95 ranger 2.3L. I can't seem to figure out where it is going. radiator looks pretty new, oil is fresh and clean, transmission fluid looks clean. I don't see any dripping under it on dry pavement. I do have really wet carpet on the passenger side, but I don't have a smell of coolant or fogging of my windshield but there are bad rust stains on the carpet and when I flushed my radiator a few months ago it puked rusty water for a LONG time so I'm thinking it may be my heater core? I don't have smoke or steam in the exhaust, the engine runs great no misfire, no codes or CEL on, temp seems stable but if I drive on the highway for 20 minutes I'll lose a couple of quarts of water. Any Ideas?

 

[1986RangerXL]

I believe your assumption is correct. Wet carpet on the passenger side is usually a sign of a bad heater core

 

[bmtrnavsky]

Finally had a dry day and I noticed a lot of water coming out behind the passenger side tire. Could it be a head gasket on the exhaust side? When I bought the truck I flushed the cooling system and it was rusty with blackish coolant. No oil in the water though.

 

[Dirtman]

Put uv dye in it. Fast and simple.

 

[Freddie Fudpucker]

Even faster and easier, get a radiator pressure tester. Pump up the pressure, and listen for where it comes out.
Most of the time will hear it before you see it.

If you thought it was the heater core, even easier. disconnect the heater hoses going into the firewall. Remove one, and loop the other one back to where you just removed the first one. Now start it up, run it up to temp, and if there is no leak inside, its the core.

 

[JMF661]

Sure seems like a bad heater core. Have you tried removing the heater core in and out hoses to see the condition of the core inlet and outlet metal on the engine compartment side?That could be telling.
A few quarts in 20 minutes? That is a pretty good leak.
Second on Freddie’s plan, disconnect the heater core lines and couple them together with a hose repair and hose clamps, or use one of the hoses to complete the coolant circuit. This would eliminate or prove the core as a culprit. With very little work or cost.