1986 Ranger radiator H20/coolant evap too fast

[bozo4ford]

1986 Ford Ranger 2.3, 5-speed manual -
Call me silly, crazy, or plain illiterate, but I would like to know if me filling up the radiator coolant before every time I drive somewhere, even locally, about every day or so, is a sign of a water pump going bad or a blown head gasket.

True, I won't argue the fact that I also have bad valves after all these years, this being an old truck, but it seems to get me to where I want to go, but I would not feel so safe taking it out on the open highway for an extended road trip anytime soon.

What I have done was to check both the upper and lower radiator hoses as well as the smaller ones going into the water piump, and don't see any leaking at all. Is there anything else I could do without a major repair? I even used that stop leak about a year ago, but that didn't seem to help.

Even bought a new water cap. There is pressure when I remove it.
Thanks for any help. bozo

 

[v8318cid]

Bad valves shouldn't cause coolant leaks as far as I'm aware. Lousy power or compression perhaps. Two places to check at this point, though, are your oil (if you're using antifreeze, it will change the color and consistency of the oil to that of chocolate syrup mixed with snot) to see if the head or head gasket is leaking, or the heater core. If you have A/C (working or not), you should have a drain on the firewall, or the fan/evap housing near the firewall. Watch for any liquid draining from the tube when there shouldn't be. I would also suggest you put a piece of clean cardboard under your truck when you park it for the evening. Check it the next day for any fluids. If you see antifreeze, try to gauge where its coming from based upon where the fluid dripped to on the cardboard. Hope that helps.

 

[bozo4ford]

Thanks....

1986 Ford Ranger 2.3, 5-speed manual -
After market ARA A/C - No longer working
Blower motor heating coil element caught on fire - heater no longer working either.

Most days, before I drive somewhere, even just a few miles or less, I have to put in a little coolant, about one or two cups, So I know there is a leak coming from somewhere, it’s just not visible, but strangely dripping from my right side front fender wall, just below the air filter, seems strange. Did not see any tiny leaks from my radiator.

What I have done was to check hoses from the radiator to the engine and noticed no leaks. Is there anything else I could do without a major repair? I even used that stop leak a while ago, but that didn't help.

A few days later…..
Ok, when I got home today, I noticed antifreeze dripping from that shield over the right side passengers wheel well. I crawled underneath and on the other side of the tire, and did not see anything as the source. I would think that it would be in the area of the radiator, either upper or lower hoses, or that short hose to the block near the water pump. I will check the heater core hoses going from engine area into Firewall again. But I did not see anything leaking from that right side firewall. I have an aftermarket ARA AC, bit that hasn’t worked for years.

If the leak is not coming from the head gasket, upper or lower radiator hoses, or those two hoses going into the firewall, where else could it be coning from? Very strange it's not anywhere near the radiator or engine, but on the right side passenger’s side, above the tires wheel well. ummmmmmmm.
Some have said it has to be from either those two heater core water hoses going into the firewall.

I have neither a working air conditioner (after marker ARA) or a working heater (leaves found their way from the outside hood vents into the Blower motor and EVAP core and the heating element caught some leaves on fire and burned mostly everything inside this box. I have not replaced that, nor would I at this point,but just want to fix the leak)

A friend suggested that I could just BYPASS the water hoses going into the firewall....is this plausible? See attached pic. Can I bypass going to the firewall by connecting a short hose from one to the other in the picture with those two near the engine.

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Thank you.