drinking coolant

[91rangerxlt]

ok fellas, my ranger has been drinking coolant. i can fill my radiator one day and in the next 2-3 days depending on how much i drive it it will heat up and i will have to put more coolant/water in it. it dosent smoke, and ive cheked my oil and it looks fine no milkynes or whitish color. im thinking maybe a cracked head but im not for sure. wat do yall think?

 

[dgndngrngr]

a compression test will tell you more but check your radiator hoses and heater core, can slow leak from there too

 

[svtranger04]

What ever it is keep checking your oil.

go to Autozone or other parts shop and rent a coolant system pressure tester.
it will allow you to put the cooling system under pressure. Hopefully its just a leaky hose, if it is you will see it leaking under pressure.

Keep checking your oil.....i would hate to see you muck you engine up.

 

[91rangerxlt]

ok so yall think its a leak from somewhere? what are the chances of it being a cracked head/blown headgasket. it has been driven while it was hot before.

 

[Psychopete]

ok so yall think its a leak from somewhere? what are the chances of it being a cracked head/blown headgasket. it has been driven while it was hot before.

Well, if you're loosing coolant, it has to be going somewhere. Given the likely hood and frequency of the problem, it is a possibility.

A cooling system pressure test will certainly indicate a leak if it cannot hold pressure, whether the leak being a heater core leak or head crack for instance.

Although, you don't have the signs like I did, one being that I had green sludge under my oil cap, elevated oil level and green highlights in my oil. It also ate coolant and would over heat at times (due to lack of coolant). You'll have to do some diagnosis to figure it out, it's an issue that I wouldn't want to second guess IMO.

Pete

 

[91rangerxlt]

wheres the heater core located at? haha i know im a noob

 

[4x4mike2004]

get some baby powder an check for the wet spot

sorry but someone had to.

let it get heated up and check around it has to be going somewhere

 

[superdave1984]

I would bet on head gasket leaking into the combustion chamber.

 

[theosxlt]

Intake manifold gaskets can sometimes leak and pull a lot of coolant. Maybe you'll get lucky and not have to pull the heads.

 

[91rangerxlt]

so if i keep plunty of coolant and keep an eye on my oil how long do you think it will last?

 

[sbsumerix]

my friend always wanted to drink coolant. it has that cool green color it looks like some yummy radioactive kool-aid.

 

[srteach]

my friend always wanted to drink coolant. it has that cool green color it looks like some yummy radioactive kool-aid.

and it has a highly toxic after taste...

(Very poisonous)

 

[sbsumerix]

and it has a highly toxic after taste...

(Very poisonous)

yeah we know he has never tried it just put it in here since the topic was drinking coolant. but washer fluid looks good too

 

[91rangerxlt]

get some baby powder an check for the wet spot

sorry but someone had to.

let it get heated up and check around it has to be going somewhere

haha ive found that flour works best

 

[90B24wd]

wheres the heater core located at? haha i know im a noob

Under the dash on the passenger side.