Losin antifreeze but no evidence

[jtomcat244]

I have a 2003 ranger 4.0 4x4. I seem to be losing coolant but cant see anywhere that it is goin. See no external leaks no evidence of coolant in the oil pan. See no antifreeze in the intake valley. Were the 2003 4.0's bad about leaking coolant because of the intake gaskets. Would love to know asap before this becomes a real emergency if you know what i mean. thanks for any help that i can get

 

[RavoHimself]

have you recently changed the coolant?

 

[hopster]

check your freeze plugs on the side of the block. if no visible signs of an external leak take your plugs out if one or two of them is really clean it indicates a head gasket leak. you didnt mention how much coolant you are using or what kind of coolant so i just gave you a couple things to check. once you do that get back to us.

 

[jtomcat244]

I just recently did a coolant change on the truck. i used the new gold antifreeze that ford recommends for this year model. The truck runs great no misses no smoke in the exhaust plenty of power. goin to go check everything again just needing some pointers in the right direction before i have a major issue.

 

[jtomcat244]

Oh yeah the radiator is full my resevoir is empty. been 2 weeks since i changed out the antifreeze. It maybe nothing but never had one empty out on me that quick. any help would be so appreciated

 

[Duane867]

I would check the water pump and hoses a little more carefully, then inspect the radiator more carefully as well as inspect the rad fluid reservoir for cracks and the hose that leads to it from the rad, check heater hoses, by pass hoses, water out let / thermostat housing. I would also try replacing the radiator cap. Some times its just a bad seal or spring in the cap. Some times the tanks on the rad's will develop a hairline crack that can be easy to miss. Weeping hoses and water pump bearings and gaskets are easily missed as well some times.

If its very greasy under there try degreasing the engine really well so it will be easier to diagnose the source of the leak. After you degrease it and spray it down with a hose soak up and standing water with paper towels then start her up and let it warm up and idle to dry out. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so. enough time to get good and hot under there to steam it away. After its all dry start her back up and do a visual for steaming leaks, and any drips or seepage. Then let it cool off real good and run your fingers on and around the freeze plugs in the block and on the heads to check for leaks and hope like hell it isn't one on the rear of the block or heads.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I would check the water pump and hoses a little more carefully, then inspect the radiator more carefully as well as inspect the rad fluid reservoir for cracks and the hose that leads to it from the rad, check heater hoses, by pass hoses, water out let / thermostat housing. I would also try replacing the radiator cap. Some times its just a bad seal or spring in the cap. Some times the tanks on the rad's will develop a hairline crack that can be easy to miss. Weeping hoses and water pump bearings and gaskets are easily missed as well some times.

If its very greasy under there try degreasing the engine really well so it will be easier to diagnose the source of the leak. After you degrease it and spray it down with a hose soak up and standing water with paper towels then start her up and let it warm up and idle to dry out. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so. enough time to get good and hot under there to steam it away. After its all dry start her back up and do a visual for steaming leaks, and any drips or seepage. Then let it cool off real good and run your fingers on and around the freeze plugs in the block and on the heads to check for leaks and hope like hell it isn't one on the rear of the block or heads.

I've had this problem on my 2000 for a while, but it seems to have stopped, and I just can't find out where the leak is... 99% sure it's not the HG... Just a hose or something, but can't figure out which one... It's stopped recently though... Maybe it was just my mind...

 

[Fordnutjake]

same issue

I had a very very similar issue with my 89 2.9L. the reservoir would empty then the radiator would follow suit. after no sign of external leaks, i found that it was leaking BEHIND the water pump, no gasket leak, my solution was to swap to the 4.0 as i had wanted to do that anyways, it was a good excuse, however, i've never heard of a 4.0 being known to do that, but keep in mind the 4.0 was just fords way of beefing up the 2.9 it's basically the same engine.

 

[jtomcat244]

i wanna thank you guys for your help. the damn plastic thermostat housing is what my problem was. and it finally let loose fri morning. so if you have to replace it be sure you get new orings for the 2 coolant sensors on the top of the housing. if not they will leak like a freakin seive. but thank all you guys for all your answers and help. i love this website

 

[Jason]

My 04 did this for 3 years. Never did actually find where it was going nor could the dealer I worked at. It even left the occasional drop on the ground but never a sign when we were looking or after we dyed it.