I have a 2K ranger 4x4 with the 4.0L. I am losing about 1/2 gal of Radiator fluid a month. Any ideas why? I took it to the dealer and they did a pressure test and didn't find anything wrong so they put in dye. A week and a half later I put my lift on it and while under the truck I noticed antifreeze stains all over my starter and on the wiring around that. I took the truck in several days later to the same dealer, but when they did a pressure test again they said they still can't find the source. My belief is it has to be the head gasket, as I don't think there is anything else near that location that can be leaking, but they want me to come back in another week and look at it again. Does anyone have any ideas what else can be causing this? Also, I haven't noticed anything in my oil, so I don't think it's going there either.

Matt

 

Hi, You may want to go to an auto parts warehouse such as NAPA and buy a pressure tester for your self. Follow the directions. but when you pressurize it let it set overnight with the pressure in the system.Have a piece of cardboard under the entire engine and the front half of the transmission. look for the area the next day on the cardboard and trace it to where the coolant is the highest. The pressure testers aren't cheap but they will preform tests for you other than just looking for a leak.
Hope this works for you.
C-YA on the road
Snowman

 

Might be a freeze plug leaking that was improperly installed at factory. Just a thought. Don

"Nothing lasts forever except natural stone and old Ford trucks." (Willie Nelson)

 

If I were you, I would make them keep your truck there until they found out what was wrong! You most definitely are still covered under their warrantee, right?

 

I had the same problem with my '99 4.0L. It was the head gasket, and all of my antifreeze was leaking into the engine. No external leaks at all. Surprisingly the truck still ran great!
:-)

They ended up dropping a new engine in it-- problem solved!

 

I took it back to another dealer and they put a pressure test on it overnight. They found a leak in the rear of the passenger side head gasket. They replaced the gasket and so far.... problem solved. Thanks for all the info!

Matt