Pissing Coolant Everywhere...

[JoeCanada]

Hey y'all...back after a hiatus...sold my '83 Ranger last year, but this year picked up a shiny new(ish) '94 Ranger 4x4 with a 4.0 (obviously, if I'm posting in this section).

Anyways, the guy who sold it to me said it was leaking coolant and needed a new water pump. Since that made sense to me at the time (and he threw in a new water pump), I took him at his word. Probably a mistake, but too late for that now. The price was right, anyhow.

I replaced the water pump, but after filling the rad with water, I see a steady stream of coolant leaking out from somewhere on the driver's side of the block. It's hard to see where, but it seems to be under the A/C compressor somewhere.

What could this be? Help!

 

[Big Jim M]

It could easily be what is known as a "freeze plug". Better that than a crack in the block.
Big JIm

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Lower intake manifold gasket. Mine did the same exact thing. Get the gaskets from Ford, don't even go with the Felpros on this one Ford has the best quality lower intake gasket, little pricey though, but definately worth the money.

The rubber ends of the gasket around the water ports just deteriorate after a while

 

[Simple_serf]

Yup...

Try pressurising the rad with a pressure tester from autozone or something. with the engine off it's easier to isolate and locate the leak, although I'd be willing to be it's the lower intake gasket. It's not hard to fix, it just takes some time, esp if you aren't familiar with the 4.0 (I wasn't). doing another would probably take me about half the time.

 

[JoeCanada]

Hmm...

Thanks for the tips...maybe I'll try borrowing a pressure tester from work and see what that says. Lower intake gasket also makes sense, (couldn't hurt to change it anyway...)

I'm assuming this would be the case even with the engine off? Because when the truck is off, and I fill the rad, the water just starts leaking out the side of the engine from somewhere. Is it possible this is still the intake gasket?

 

[JoeCanada]

One last note

One more thing...where exactly are the freeze plugs on the 4.0?

 

[MAKG]

If filling it is enough to make it piss, don't bother with the pressure tester. Just take a close look at the engine block with a mirror and flashlight and see exactly where it's pissing from.

There is no substitute for this.

 

[JoeCanada]

Success...sort of

Well, I pulled off the A/C compressor and the power steering pump, and there is a steady stream of water visible coming out from between the intake and the driver's side head. UrbanRedneckKid, you were correct! 1000 points! The rubber part of the gasket is visible sticking out at that point too.

How difficult is it to get the intake off? What all should I remove to get to it? (Those of you who have done it before.)

 

[MAKG]

Upper intake, valve covers, and lower intake/fuel rail. Do NOT separate the fuel rail and injectors from the lower intake unless you have to. If you feel you need to, you can unbolt engine components and/or brackets for easier access to the valve covers.

Just as a suggestion, now is a good time to replace the thermostat and rad cap, as well as any hoses that might look marginal.

Use a Ford lower intake gasket. Fel-Pro is fine for the others (but the Ford valve cover gaskets are really nice as well). Fel-Pro lower gaskets SUCK DONKEY BUTTS. It's not hard that way. Just bolts and gaskets.

Some folks like to change the oil after a job like this (since it's possible to get stuff in there).

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Yup, X2 on what MAKG says

I thought thought the hardest part was getting the nut loose from the EGR tube and the bolt from the coil bracket to the head

4hrs the first time I did it. 4x later it takes 2.5hrs (good way to make $300 on the side) Pretty simple job just take your time

Also follow the torque spec/sequence to the T, other wise your wasting your time
[Tech Library>Ranger Engines>4.0 V6] Torque spec is top of page - sequence is at the bottom

 

[MAKG]

Be careful about torque sequence diagrams for the 4.0L. At least some of them are BACKWARDS. ALWAYS torque from the center outwards.

FYI, only some 4.0Ls have EGR tubes.

 

[JoeCanada]

Excellent

Thanks for the tip on the gaskets, MAKG. A new lower intake gasket from Ford is $80 and the upper gasket is $18. NAPA sells a kit with all the top-end gaskets for $75, but I question the quality at that price. I'll definately get the intake gaskets from Ford.

I think I will get the valve cover gaskets from NAPA and replace those too. $60 for the pair. The gaskets are $50 each from Ford. Seems a little rich for my blood, even for OEM.

 

[MAKG]

Do shop around. Dealer prices are not at all constant, and I've found a factor of 2 difference before.

I'd expect more like $50 for a lower gasket, but it's been a few years since I did mine.

And there is always fordparts.com (mail order).

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

The $115 I spent on my gaskets, (all from Ford) was worth it in my eyes. A few extra bucks is like cheap insurance that you won't have any problems.

I could have gotten the complete Felpro set for $40 but I just didn't want problems

Yes, $115 for ALL the gaskets from Ford. Lower Intake(1) Valve Cover(2) Upper Intake(1)

Just go to a few competetitive Dealers and tell them each other's quotes, and they will try to beat each other out for your business. The dealer I bought mine from I was fired from on bad terms and they still gave me a better price.

I would have paid more for the Ford ones anyways, once you see them you'll see, the quality is just so nice.

 

[JoeCanada]

I tried a handful of dealerships around here, but unfortunately they were all the same price. Oh well. I picked up the appropriate gaskets from the dealership today, so hopefully I'll have it all back together this week.