help still loossing coolent!

[mkpecor]

i have a 88 ranger 2.9, i just put in a new water pump the other was shot, i just put a new heater core in , the old one was bad, come to find out im still needing to refill my over flow tank every 3 to 4 days, do you think i have bad head gaskets, i have no water in the crank or any thing, SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? thanks for the help..

 

[mhughes165]

compression test each of the cylinders, if one is considerably lower(which is hard to tell with a 2.9 just by it running) then theres ur culprit cylinder.

now that is said, it doesnt have to be a head gasket, check for weeping freeze plugs, and hope the one behind the flywheel isnt weeping

 

[mkpecor]

all the freeze plugs are solid , checked them when i did my clutch 4 month ago and yester day, so i know its not the freez plugs. its got me. it only could be so many things,

 

[WildSide]

If it's not an outside leak and it's not leaking into the cylinders then it is leaving the engine through the exhaust, perhaps a head crack leading from a coolant passage to a port.

 

[mkpecor]

thats what i was thinkin, when i start it up when its cold its white smoke , steam like.

 

[WildSide]

Yes but all engines do that to some extent but then if you can smell antifreeze that would be a positive indication. I have a 2.9 that does leak into the exhaust, I found out by using fluorescent dye mixed with the coolant and a black light to find the leak path.

 

[mkpecor]

i cant smell anti freeze no more since i put the new heater core in , the old one was leaking, but still loosing coolent. freez plugs are all good, im stumped.

 

[Dangeranger3]

Are you sure the heads not cracked and leaking down the side of the engine. Mine does that and evaporate when it hits the exhaust manifold.. I like the fluorescent dye idea.

 

[Taragon]

Get a coolant pressure test kit, and test it.

 

[mkpecor]

ya,im gunna #uck with it this weekend, good thing i kept the 302 for my old f100. if their cracked ill put that in.