94 4.0 overheated, runs terrible

[Deluxedave]

I think my son overheated his 94 Ranger 4.0. When I got there he was on the shoulder of the freeway, coolant had already sprayed everywhere and the vehicle would barely run. I couldn't tell where the coolant came from but it seemed worst in the front of the engine compartment on the passenger side. Oil level was a quart or so low. When questioned, he just said it "just started running like crap. I tried to give it more gas and it had no power". He could not tell me if it overheated before it started running poorly or after. I checked the dip stick and the filler cap - neither seems to have any snot or milky substance. I pulled the stored codes and it was a 117 (which I believe is an engingine coolant temp sensor issue) I did not try to run the vehicle while pulling codes because I need to feather the throttle just to keep it running.
Any suggestions on what to do next would be helpful. I was considering doing a compression check.

 

[Big Jim M]

So it is now full of coolant? And you can start it? Ok so run her till she gets to temperature. See if she will overheat again. You cannot hurt what is already broke! Then start worring about what to repair.
If it is an automatic, and he drove it very far overheated the tranny fliuid could be burnt and causing tranny problems.
Big JIm

 

[stx4.0]

You more than likely had a water pump failure.They have a weep hole but when mine went bad it let all the coolant out in a matter of minutes and I have seen several of them go out like that now.The 4.0 is a good engine but you do not want to get one hot..not that any engine likes to be hot but the 4.0 seems to be alot more sensitive.Both heads on mine cracked as I am sure yours did also however niether one of mine were warped which I thought was very strange for as hot it got.I replaced the heads on mine and bought a new radiator and thermostat and my motor still overheats and like there is no coolant in it at all.Hopefully you will have a lot better luck than I did fixing yours.Like my dad said once,its so much easier(and cheaper) to just keep tabs on the gauges!

 

[feellnfroggy]

If they heat up too much it will run like crap. If the oil is clean you are either fine or have a head gasket leak. Let it cool off and it should run ok agian. BUt have it checked out thoroughly. THe coolant spewed from the pressure release valve on the rad cap.

 

[stx4.0]

No you are not necessarily fine if the oil is clean.I knew at least one of my cylinders were dead after mine got hot.I kept an eye on my oil as I thought the gasket/s went out as I could not tear in to my engine right away like I wanted too but was going to anyway if I found water in it.A little over a year went by when I finally had all my parts rounded up and had the time to go thru it.I decided to do a compression check out of curiosity before I ripped in to it and when I pulled the number 4 spark plug out coolant shot out like a cannon.Never have seen that before and hope I never do but not a drop of it made it to the pan.Both heads were cracked but only the one cylinder had coolant get in.So checking the oil will not tell you anything for sure.Since 4.0 heads are somewhat prone to cracking,I would almost gaurantee any of them that have been overheated are cracked.