Seems I've got a common problem

[MichaelPaladin]

I've got a '99 Ford Ranger, up till about a few weeks ago. the only things I've had to do is change oil, plugs/wires and shocks.

I've read a few postings on the engine cooling system, where the it started "puking" from the overflow tank.

Mine stated this right before the water pump failed (it started leaking from the weep hole). I replaced the water pump and thermostat and thought I had it solved once I refilled and "burped" the cooling system. Was still having problems so I took it to a service shop, had the engine block "power flushed" and a had a new radiator installed. Then he called me, saying the new radiator busted at the seam, so I picked it up and exchanged it for a new one under warranty. (Yea I have a mechanic that let me buy the parts and he installed them)

Now two days later, this radiator has busted. From some of the other post I've seen it looks like it could be the intake manifold gasket, or the head gaskets.

My question, is there anything else I need to look at as well? I've grown allergic to vehicle payments and I want to get a couple more years out of this truck.

Granted I'm a HVAC Service Tech, but I have torn down a engine on a old 85 chevy S-10 to replace the timing gear. And that ran another 5-6 years before the tranny died.

 

[Earl43P]

Auto Parts stores sell a kit that detects exhaust gases in the coolant.

I suggest you do that to confirm whether your head gasket is blown.

I've never heard of a 3.0 intake manifold gasket causing over-pressurization of the coolant system.

 

[Big Jim M]

What happened

When the first coolant pump went out, you failed to notice the low coolant for a period of time long enough to BURN a head gasket. Ot perhaps even crack a head. So after all the work the system is still leaking combustion into the coolant system.
That said... you DO NEED a need gasket set and maybe even a new head.
As for the splitting radiators. I never have had such a problem with new radiators. Are these mexican made? The ONLY thing that could cause such a happening is a really BAD radiator cap or poor construction from the radiator factory.
So a new cap is in order as well as a gasket set, for sure.
Big JIm

 

[Jason_J]

Where are you located? I have a good set of heads.

 

[Rearanger]

Then he called me, saying the new radiator busted at the seam,...Now two days later, this radiator has busted.

Agree with Jim, replace the rad cap first, it's designed to maintain a safe constant pressure in the cooling system. As Earl said you can get a kit to tell if exhaust gases are in the coolant, but before you do that you can examine your oil to see if it shows signs of water/AF, see if your exhaust smokes thick white smoke that smells sweet, and do a compression test. All that will tell you if you need new head gasket. If you replace the HG then get the head checked for flatness to make sure it did not warp from over heating cooling system. I've had cooling system overheat/coolant "puke" and did not blow HG or damage head, so don't panic yet.

 

[MichaelPaladin]

Well when the new radiator was installed, a new radiator cap was as well.

But the burst area is along a seam, where the side tank is attached to the radiator body. And the seam is made with metal fingers rolled over to grasp the tank all the way around it.

The bad thing is I got to looking around at the different auto parts web sites, and the radiators they are selling are all the same brand as the one that was installed. And between 4 auto parts stores and the dealer the price ranges from $143 to $281 for a radiator.

I had seen the bubbles in the overflow tank after I replaced the water pump, but at the time I didn't know what that could have meant.