2.3L ('02-'11) Replace head gasket or new engine

[tatermatt90]

Truck slowly losing coolant but otherwise runs perfect. I did a combustion leak test and these are the results. The color changed from blue to green. The pure blue in this pic is from my f150 as comparison to the green from my ranger. So I'm assuming the ranger has a small head gasket leak. The color is suppose to change to yellow when exposed to combustion gases.

What can I do to keep this truck running? It also needs a new transmission at some point. Do I just keep driving until the truck no longer runs anymore and then drop in a reman engine? Or do I try to save this engine and stop driving it until I get the head gasket replaced

 

[Dirtman]

I've never used one of those test kits but I wouldn't exactly call that "definitive results".

How much coolant are you actually loosing? I'd put some UV dye in it and inspect for external leaks, they are prone to leaks at the rear of the head in an impossible to access location but will be visible with black light and dye.

I'd also do a compression test. And while you have the plugs out, inspect them. If one is suspiciously clean, and one cylinder suspiciously lower compression then I'd consider doing the head gasket.

 

[racsan]

If you pull the head, take it somewhere & get it magnafluxed to check for cracks, I think dual-plug 2.3 heads are prone to this. mine had a head gasket issue and upon checking, every valve seat was cracked, got a junkyard head and similar results were found. my issue wasnt coolant but compression & oil loss (head gasket oil return hole had eroded to #3 cyl)

 

[tatermatt90]

That's what I'm afraid of it being a cracked head. How much would you expect it to cost to get the head and head gasket done? The coolant drops 1/4 inch to a full inch in the over flow tank every 100 to 300 miles.

 

[racsan]

I did my own work so not sure what a shop would charge. A rebuilt head from autozone ran me $200 (I think, was a few years ago) at least going that route you get new valves/valve seals. I spent more than $300 on the whole job because while I was in there I put a new water pump on, timing belt & tensioner, thermostat & housing (housing had a pin hole in it which I had previously j.b. welded) . And about a month later I had to put a new alternator on it.

 

[Dirtman]

It would be extremely rare for a duratec engine to crack a head.

 

[Dirtman]

I did my own work so not sure what a shop would charge. A rebuilt head from autozone ran me $200 (I think, was a few years ago) at least going that route you get new valves/valve seals. I spent more than $300 on the whole job because while I was in there I put a new water pump on, timing belt & tensioner, thermostat & housing (housing had a pin hole in it which I had previously j.b. welded) . And about a month later I had to put a new alternator on it.

It's not a Lima 2.3...

 

[racsan]

It's not a Lima 2.3...

ok, wasnt sure what he had. too many 2.3’s out there. lol

 

[Dirtman]

ok, wasnt sure what he had. too many 2.3’s out there. lol

I am just assuming its a duratec since he posted in the 2002+ forum lol.