Coolant from my coolant bottle DISAPPEARED!

[SolidSnake84]

Hey folks,

Was just checking my fluids yesterday and I noticed that my resevoir bottle for my radiator was completley bone dry. In a panic, i looked all around to see if I had antifreeze leaking out from anywhere, and then i pulled my dipstick to see if there was any water in with the oil.

I found no obvious leaks, and the oil looked good and clean. After the truck cooled down, i looked in the radiator and found it full of green fluid. Where could this antifreeze be going? The bottle did not fill back up after it cooled down.

I am paranoid now that I have a blown head gasket or a leaking waterpump that is somehow blowing fluid while i drive, even though it doesn't leave a trace of anything when I park underneath. The truck has never gotten hot on me, not since owning it 2 julys ago.

I have a 2006 Screw, with the 4.0 SOHC...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[snoman6115]

ya sme thing ahppens to my 98 4.0. i been "working on it" for bout 6 months idk im at a loss so good luck. im not worrying untill coolant shows up where it shouldnt, ie oil exhaust

 

[jhammel85]

Honestly, I think thats OK. I would just make sure that the Radiator is filled to where it needs to be and make sure that reservoir is filled to where it needs to be as well. There might be marks on the side of the reservoir for doing so.

It doubles as a tank to hold antifreeze as well as hold antifreeze incase the truck overheats and it boils over.

BUT keep an eye out for leaks. One thing I've always done is run the vehicle up to operating temp and shut it down. Immediately, open the hood and just look around and listen. I guess because of the pressure and the fact that its not circulating anymore, it shows leaks easily. Just give it a few minutes.....
Its the best way, other than dye, that I've found leaks...even pin hole leaks.

 

[bcost882]

it does it once inawhile in my 3.0L too

 

[Big Jim M]

Air in the engine promotes RUST! Which then circulates and wears the coolant pump and stops up the radiator and heater core!
So the coolant tank has been employed on all current vehicles. If the coolant tank gets low...or in this case EMPTY.. you have a leak. 99% of original leaks are OUTSIDE the engine. Left unattended these leaks cause burnt valves, burnt pistons and most common burnt head gaskets.
As the engine warms up the coolant actually grows in size. This is channeled to the coolant tank by way of a small rubber hose. Then as the engine cools the coolant shrinks.. And coolant is SUCKED backward thru the radiator cap into the engine...keeping it full at all times.
So what to do? First fill the coolant tank to see if it leaks! Many times you will find a crack in the tank itself. Then INSPECT the hose between the tank and the radiator. It is common to find this hose has a crack either at the coolant tank or at the radiator.
If none is found then look at every hose and connection. Then look at the coolant pump for a small leak. Then look to see if one of the heads has a small leak outside the engine. Last and worst, for me anyway, is the freeze plugs! These usually don't give trouble unless straight water has been used.
BUT whatever you think about adding a little coolant from time to time..DON"T do it! REPAIR the problem! If you don't you will be doing a lot more repairing than you'd like.
Big JIm

 

[ringer4x4]

same problem with my 2000 since bought from the dealer- they orginally denied it ever losing coolant.. first both heads were cracked but still losing coolant brought to another dealer and they told me the timing cover is leaking coolant there

 

[bcost882]

my timing cover was leaking coolant got the bars leaks liqid aluminum and it is gone, that stuff is awsome.

 

[snoman6115]

hey bcost, u talkin bout jsut the el' cheapo bars aluminum? cuz i was thinkin of addin that to see if it helps my head gasket problem

 

[BC ranger]

Same deal here, I have a 2000 Ranger XLT with the 4.0 OHV. The coolant in the reservoir was about an inch below the cold fill line so I topped it up. Over a period of weeks it worked its way back down to where it was and seems happy there, i.e. no more loss. I keep an eye out for leaks but I haven't gone through with a fine tooth comb. Sounds fine, runs fine so who knows

 

[daniel3507]

I have a slight leak coming from the hose right under the radiator cap. nothing huge though.

 

[snoman6115]

daniel, if u put a hose clamp on it i betcha it would stop it. since its jsut a push on hose it can get loose. or if ya got an extra inch or 2 jsut cut and inch off nd it should be tighter.

 

[Big Jim M]

That's what happens

I have a slight leak coming from the hose right under the radiator cap. nothing huge though.

Daniel that is just the type of leak that overheats the headgaskets and maybe even cracks heads before it is found. them little drips can and do cause really bad things to happen.
Big JIm

 

[kimcrwbr1]

+1 on the hose from the radiator to the reservor check for cracks clamp both ends and fill the tank to specified level hot or cold and keep an eye on it. sometimes small leaks dont show signs hoses radiator and such how old is the radiator cap replace it regularly like every 20,000 miles or so as preventative maint they are not expensive same with the breather filter.

 

[snoman6115]

so as preventative maint they are not expensive same with the breather filter.

u talkin PCV valve? or waht breather filter

 

[SolidSnake84]

found the leak

Hey guys,

I went over it with a fine toothed comb over the weekend and found out where the coolant was leaking from. It is coming out the front of the water pump behind the pulley. The weep hole was totally dry as was everything else, but when crawling underneath i noticed the belt was wet, looked up, and saw a thin but visible stream coming from behind the clutch fan pulley.

I'm happy this is all it was. I'm going to put a new water pump on tomorrow night and since i needed to change the fluid anyway, this gives me the perfect opportunity. Thanks everyone for the responses.