Coolant Leak...

[ruppy22000]

Can anyone tell me the regions of the 4.0 where coolant most often likes to vacate? I have had this issue for some time now and I CAN'T FIND THE LEAK! This has been goin on for about 3,000 miles and I don't have a milkshake yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jmg8550]

I would check for coolant leaks in your cylinder heads. they have a tendency to crack. I have just had this issue on my ranger. I had a mysterious coolant loss for about 6 months then the heads cracked and it became very evident why. have your heads checked in the cylinders.

 

[cr_the_machinist]

Often times your thermostat housing can leak without any signs or whitness marks. It usually boils off before you can notice it. Check all of the simple stuff first. I had a problem with cracked heads on my 4.0L though, so don't rule that out. It's a common problem for those engines.

 

[mandospd]

Heater core was my problem...notice any funny smells or gurgling sounds..

 

[5337]

Hey Ruppy22000,

I had a similar problem with my truck.
I kept smelling antifreeze but couldn't find the leak.
I finally jacked it up and crawled under it and spotted antifreeze near the back of the engine. I traced it back to the timing cover (drivers side) where it meets the front of the oil pan.
Thanks to Big Jim M's suggestion I tightened all the bolts on the cover that I could reach and cleaned the area with carb cleaner.
Going on 2 weeks still no leak!

Hope it helps,
Tim

 

[woodyedmiston]

Expansion or Freeze plugs

The freeze plug above the starter can leak, fall on the hot oil filter and dissapate before it makes a puddle. Also the coolant overflow can crack along the bottom seam. They say the intake can leak too but I haven't had the experience.

 

[ruppy22000]

Thanks guys, I filled up my fluid 3 days ago and checked the level today... its right where it should be. This is getting confusing, oh well I'll keep checkin on it and keep your inputs in mind. Thanks again!

 

[BeaterMan]

get the cooling system checked for leaks, a shop can pressurize the system and any leak will show up. most shops will do it for free, atleast around here. good luck.

 

[98 ranger xlt]

Water pump

Check the water pump sometimes it can leak ever so slightly and not notice it.

 

[Lifted2x]

If you cant find a external leak I would pull the spark plugs, look and see if any are clean. Then do a leak down test and look for bubbles out the radiator at the same time.

 

[ruppy22000]

So after letting my truck heat up yesterday morning i jumped in and headed to work. A little way down the road I caught a wiff of coolant, heater was running. Heater core?

 

[jmg8550]

So after letting my truck heat up yesterday morning i jumped in and headed to work. A little way down the road I caught a wiff of coolant, heater was running. Heater core?

Quite possibly. Any steam in the cab? Maybe fogged up windows when the heater is on defrost? Coolant dripping on the floor after shut off?

 

[RedRacer304]

Are the water pumps pron to failure on rangers?

I have a 97, 4.0L, and I just replaced the water pump six months ago due to a mysterious leak and never had a puddle under the truck. After jacking the truck up I could see where the coolant was running down from the water pump and burning up on the motor before it dripped.

As I'm leaving for school this morning I see a puddle under the truck and if appears to be leaking from the bottom of the water pump again. Couldn't tell exactly. Anyone else have similar issues? Checked the lower radiator hose and its ok.