my truck has cancer, again

[Twitch57]

89 ford ranger 2.9L v6

It looses a bunch of radiator fluid, about a gallon a day

Im not quite sure were it is going,

there is a very small drip under it that comes from under the engine
but it doesnt seem to be enough to loose that much fluid

I cannot see any hoses leaking

thought it was a cracked head or something but the oil is fine

also thought it was the water pump, but i replaced it about 2 years ago,
so methinks it be something else

any thoughts or ideas

help!!!

thanks

 

[pillen140]

a gallon a day? thats a lot of coolant! there is a big problem with your truck, did you look at it with full coolant and running, if nothing is coming out then, its internal, smell your tail pipe, is there white smoke coming out when you drive? thats a lot of fluid to lose and not know where its going.

 

[Jspafford]

Is the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump leaking? It may only be running out when your driving.

Could also be a freeze plug, but that would be almost obvious.

If it were in the oil you would know it quick at a gallon a day.

Almost has to be an external leak.

 

[Twitch57]

tailpipe seems clear

checked the weep hole while running - its fine

seems to be coming from the back of the engine...

 

[pillen140]

the head gasket or intake? maybe cracked block?

 

[86ford]

after a HUGE headache once i found a pin hole in my rear freeze plug on my passangers side head. it leaked BAD because of the pressure. get a inspection mirror while it is running and look VERY closely and for a very long time.

86

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

I had the same problem just i didnt eat as much coolant. Chances are your head is cracked and you got lucky enough as to not have it in your oil. My oil was perfectly clean the entire time i ran my motor like that (1 year) and i never had antifreeze leaking out of anything. nothing. I spent hours and hours looking to make sure it wasnt a cracked head. Well it was, just a very lucky one. That engine ran so good it pained me to me take it out and put another in. I beleive it is burned with the exaust on the way out, my exaust did smell a little sweet. But once i put the new motor in shes tight as a drum and maintains the same level its had for 25,000 miles this year already.

 

[snake]

Try pressurizing the radiator and verifying the leak. If you don't have a pressure tester, ( I just got one this year and used it tons of times already) you can turn an air compresser down to 20 lbs or less and shoot air up through the rubber line that goes to the recovery tank- just take the line loose from the tank and shoot compressed air into the radiator with the cap on tight. The cap will allow the pressure in, and it should hold it there unless you exceed the cap pressure. You may have better luck doing this with a cold engine, as cold water leaks are more prevelant that hot ones. If it is coming from the rear I'd bet a freeze plug on the back of the block.

 

[Twitch57]

Ill give it a try- and pray to God it aint a cracked head

thanks guys

 

[Twitch57]

Victory!!!

I borrowed the presure tester from my dads boss

found a hose near the manifold that was pretty well hidden

water was shooting out so that i never woulda found it without the pressure thing

i spent hours lookin for it w/o the pressure thing and found it in 10 seconds with it

used my trusty spyderco to cut off the leaky part and just reattatched it

ill get new hoses tomorow from napa


i am so glad it wasn't a cracked head


thanks guys- I apreciate the help and advice