2.9 overheating

[86ranger4x4owner]

OK i got a 1988 ranger 2.9l and today i changed the thermostat because it was undercooling so when i get where the thermostat is suppose to be there is just a little meatl thing and a hole in the center so i took it out and put the thermostat in and now it runs at the r in normal on the temperature hand so is this normal temperature?and also i squized the top radiator hose and it had no pressure what so ever i can squeze the hose all the way together while it is hot so what does this mean a bad water pump?I can also take the radiator cap off when it is fully hot and it doesnt boil over so am losing pressure somewhere and also having no pressure can that overheat it to?

 

[Ozwynn]

If the thermostat is not in upside down (don't laugh, i've done it) then check the coolant level. If thats fine then do a compression test. 2.9s are alergic to heat and are prone to head cracking. Whats the oil look like? If it looks like snot or milkshake you most definately have a blown head gasket or cracked head.

The fix for this is a 4.0l swap.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

The oil looks fine to me it has coolant and I put the thermostat in right. So am thinking water pump or radiator cap more of the water pump though can this be the cause?

 

[Ozwynn]

Did you bleed the cooling system? Park it with the front slightly elevated with the cap off and let it run for a long time. Keep adding coolant until its full.

 

[06RangerXLT]

did you get the correct temp thermostat? my truck runs at the same spot, but doesnt flow fluid till its on the high end of it. Just cus its warm doesnt mean theres any pressure in the system.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

Did you bleed the cooling system? Park it with the front slightly elevated with the cap off and let it run for a long time. Keep adding coolant until its full.

No i didnt do that i just filled it with coolant and ran down the road and let it heat all the way up and checked it again and it was still full ill try this though.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

did you get the correct temp thermostat? my truck runs at the same spot, but doesnt flow fluid till its on the high end of it. Just cus its warm doesnt mean theres any pressure in the system.

I think i got the correct one its a murray 192 degree thermostat is that correct?And it runs at the r on normal doesnt go down or higher.And the top radiator hose isent warm its hot.but i can press the hose in so i dont have any pressure and probably not much coolant flow.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

I pulled it on some car ramps and let it run with the cap off and it warmed all the way up and didnt need any coolant

 

[Psychopete]

I had a vic that wouldn't build any cooling system pressure; it had a leak. Could be a bad radiator cap, leaking reservoir hose, etc. If you can't find it, then dye it. PO put that metal piece in there to cover up a problem with running a normal t-stat. The bleeder hole on the t-stat should be pointing up. Really can't tell if your over heating unless it's boiling over or you have an aftermarket temp gauge. The temp gauge doesn't have anything to reference temperature and anyone's guess is as good as mine.

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

It doesnt really over heat its just a little hotter than i would like it to be.Am thinking about draining it again and getting another new thermostat with my warranty and then take the upper and lower radiator hose off and make sure theres nothing wrong with them and am going to check the radiator and put a new cap on it.And it also has been bored over so idk if that has anything to do with running a little hot?And could it be anything else other than the cooling system or somthing in the cooling system in the engine?

 

[Ozwynn]

If you got no snot in the oil then you more than likely got air im the system. Or nothing wrong at all. 'specially if it a not using coolant. Or a bad cap.... Or a bad heater core....

 

[86ranger4x4owner]

Well the heat comes out pretty good and the heater core doesnt leak so how can i tell if its bad?and will anything bad happen if i dont have any pressure on the cooling system?it also has an aftermarket radator not the stock one so any other ideas?

 

[Ozwynn]

I am bettin you are just a nervious nelly and nuthin is wrong. If it makes you feel better change the water pump and hoses that way you know its done and they are cheap anyways.

Change your cap for good measure.

 

[2813josh]

Yeah,if it's not overheating it's probably ok...but if it was me I'd replace the cap it's cheap and easy.

 

[Vanner1993]

My factory gauge runs between R and M on NORMAL. This is after a whole cooling flush, hoses etc. Some days it will go up to M on NORMAL. But its been fine doing that. Get a aftermarket temp gauge, there cheap and you wont be un easy about operating temp.