Ranger 2.9l using coolant

[88 XLT Ranger]

"The saga of coolant loss"


I got an issue of my Ranger is using coolant I got a nice overflow tank. I had no issues until it got cold I went to use my heater no heat. I back flushed the heater core nice flow and heat after that. Now it seams to be loosing about 1/2 inch of coolant from the overflow tank each time I drive it. I does not overheat I checked all hoses and pressure checked the system and radiator cap all pass no issues. I checked the heater core drain tube that goes through the firewall nothing of a leak there eather. Any ideas of the coolant loss?

 

[ricardoguitars]

Possible head gasket leak?, have you checked compression?, is white smoke visible out the exhaust?.

Enviado desde mi PRA-LX2 mediante Tapatalk

 

[RonD]

Check Overflow hose, I had a crack in mine and it was losing coolant there, and of course only AFTER engine/coolant was hot so it evaporated fairly quickly, no sign of a leak

Also remove rad cap after engine has cool down fully, coolant level should be at the very top, thats the point of the Overflow tank system, keeps rad topped up at cool down, if overflow hose has a leak it will suck some air back into rad and coolant level won't be at the very top

A pressure test should have shown a leak in head gasket or cracked head issue

 

[88 XLT Ranger]

Check Overflow hose, I had a crack in mine and it was losing coolant there, and of course only AFTER engine/coolant was hot so it evaporated fairly quickly, no sign of a leak

Also remove rad cap after engine has cool down fully, coolant level should be at the very top, thats the point of the Overflow tank system, keeps rad topped up at cool down, if overflow hose has a leak it will suck some air back into rad and coolant level won't be at the very top

A pressure test should have shown a leak in head gasket or cracked head issue

Thank you Ron

That was the issue the overflow hose I would have never thought that was the issue. I noticed tiny bubbles coming from inside the tank after shutting it off. As it was doing this I took and put pressure on the hose around the fitting below the radiator cap it stopped. It was sucking air around the hose I cut about 1/2 off put it back on real tight fit. No more tiny bubbles or loss of coolant. I thought it was the heater core but than again you would smell the antifreeze burning or fogging of the windshield. Also I can see little white water spot stains on the shroud beside the overflow hose with my ultra violate light. This forum is awesome with help from high tech guy's like you

 

[IIBRONCOS]

RonD is the man !! And he is just one of the many tech guys to learn from here.