Coolant Leak: Water Pump or Timing Cover Gasket?

[nobb]

Hello,

I have a 2008 Ranger with the 3.0 and the coolant reservoir is going down about 2-3 cm per week (very minor for now). I'm not completely sure where the leak is. Just from visual inspection, the upper area of the water pump seems to be a bit wet but it could be from the valve cover gaskets. On the bottom of the water pump and around the oil pan, there's a weird goopy yellowish clay type of residue that might be dried coolant + oil, but I'm not 100% sure. My passenger side valve covers are a bit weepy, so it might be mixing with a coolant leak.

I'm waiting for my UV dye and UV light to come in from Amazon, so in the meantime I'm curious to hear your tips on how to best use the UV dye when I get it. How would I best determine if the leak is only the water pump gasket, or if it's the timing gasket? These components are so close to each other. Ideally I don't want to have to do the timing cover gasket because it looks like a huge PITA with regards to removing the oil pan and such.

 

[oranjvoodoodaddy]

Best way to test a cooling system in my experience has been with a cooling system pressure tester. If the leak can't be found when using this tool on a cold engine, try it on a warm engine.

I don't have any experience using UV dye in cooling systems. Please share your findings.

My '94 ranger with 225k seeps from the timing cover on the passenger side and a couple of the freeze plugs only when I've been driving and wheelin' in 100' weather. I put some bars leak (the brown one) in it about 6-7k ago and have added maybe a quart of coolant in that time.



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[helpme]

Mine turned out to be a defective radiator cap. Go with the 7 pounder cap.