2.3L ('83-'97) Radiator not filling fully after draining

[Kailash]

1996 ford ranger manual 4 cyl 2 wheel 2.3 L

In short I put a coolant cleaner in and drove around some and drained everything. I put the cleaner in my coolant instead of water because it’s getting cold at night.

I drained it the first time and about 2 gallons came out. Manual says 7.2 liters plus the cleaner should be about 2 gallons so that seemed fine.

then I tried to do a second quick flush with just distilled water. I was only able to fill up the radiator with one gallon. I made sure to run the engine and reved it some to try and get the engine to pull everything through and let it run for like 15 min. ( I ran the heat and it did work) The water level dropped some but I got basically one gallon into the system. I drained it and got one gallon out.

I tried this again and got the same result. 1 gallon in 1 gallon out

I also replaced both temp sensors and the heat shutoff vaulve if that could have something to do with it.

Im thinking maybe clogged radiator or water pump but im lost.

also temperature gauge is not working

Thanks

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm in the same area, if your temp gauge isn't moving that's just how it is right now, mine doesn't really move unless it's over 50F outside, I went as far as blocking off half the radiator to get any heat output (no A/C on my '97). The block won't necessarily drain by just draining the radiator, there's a block drain plug somewhere, I don't remember where. My radiator just blew in an accident a couple weeks ago and it took about 2 gallons of coolant to fill it up but it sat for most of a week... The heater core also doesn't drain when you drain the radiator, there's no real good way to get the coolant out of that.