overheat problem

[rangerheat]

hi guys,i got a '94 ford ranger 2wd 4.0 eng with auto trans. everytime it runs about 10miles,temp will go up beyond normal. changed radiator,water pump, thermostat and hoses,but didnt help. everytime i start in the morning, water comes out from tailpipe( is this normal?). please help,what's the cause of this. thanks in advance.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the water is "probably" just condensation...but it wouldnt hurt to do a compression test to rule out a blown head gasket or cracked head (these can cause overheating).

is the driving usually city driving or highway driving? things to check are the radiator cap, cooling fan, and engine water jacket condition.

 

[rangerheat]

thanks for info. one thing i notice is,it seems that the water is not circulating since the top of radiator is extremely hot.when i tried to drain the water from the bottom of rad, the water is cold. is this one sign of blown head gasket or crack head?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

that does sounds like the coolant isnt circulating. i wonder if the water jacket on the engine is plugged with rust...

 

[Big Jim M]

First question

hi guys,i got a '94 ford ranger 2wd 4.0 eng with auto trans. everytime it runs about 10miles,temp will go up beyond normal. changed radiator,water pump, thermostat and hoses,but didnt help. everytime i start in the morning, water comes out from tailpipe( is this normal?). please help,what's the cause of this. thanks in advance.

What does "beyond normal" mean? Does the engine get so hot it PUKES the coolant out? Or does the needle just get past where NORMAL is written on the gauge?
If the latter that is really nothing to worry about. If the former than you most likely need a new thermostat.
The coolant in the bottom of the radiator SHOULD be very cool. That is the job of the radiator...cooling the coolant!
Big JIm

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the needle going past the "normal" range IS something to worry about. if it was normal for the guage to travel that far, they would have written "normal" all the way across the gauge.

the problem may be in the gauge, but it doesnt sound like it.

with the truck at operating temp, the coolant at the bottom of the radiator shouldnt be cold...it should be cooler than the top...but not cold.

 

[rangerheat]

that does sounds like the coolant isnt circulating. i wonder if the water jacket on the engine is plugged with rust...

can you please tell me where the water jacket is located? do ijust clean it? for bigjim, i just changed the thermostat.but i do appreciate your input.

 

[Big Jim M]

can you please tell me where the water jacket is located? do ijust clean it? for bigjim, i just changed the thermostat.but i do appreciate your input.

You didn't answer my question about how HOT it gets!
The water jacket is anywhere in the engine that the coolant goes.. As an example the cylinders are "jacketed" by coolant..
C'mon tell us how hot it is REALLY.
Big JIm

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the water jacket is, like jim said, the area of the engine the water flows through. the best way to clean it out is with a good chemical flush (available at any auto parts stre).

but it would be nice to know how far your gauge is going up. what temperature is your new t-stat?

 

[289-tiger-]

Check your heater core by pulling the lines at the firewall and connecting them together with an appropriate piece of tubing and clamps. The heater core (sediment trap) is a by-pass on the 94 and might be blocked up. Dress warm if its cold out when you drive it. (one line feels cold, one hot will give you a tip)

Good luck