External Coolant Leak

[Zipper43]

Hey Folks;

I'm new here and am hoping someone might be familiar with my problem. I have a 99 Ranger XLT 4X4 with the 4.0L V6.

For a while now I've been noticing the smell of coolant when I get out of my truck after driving it and had been having to top up the coolant every once in a while but couldn't tell where the leak was coming from.

Over the last couple of days the leak has become a steady stream that results in a pool of coolant under the truck after parking it. The leak stops shortly after the truck is turned off.

I checked the hoses and the water pump They all seem fine. I got underneath my truck last night and the leak appears to be coming off the left (drivers) side of the engine block. I think it might be a drain plug or something similar, but the haynes manual I have doesn't seem to cover sources of coolant leaks that aren't either the water pump or a hose.

Can anyone help?

Regards
Jim

[Aggie05]

NOt to familiar with that model but i have had to trace these in the past. I had luck with grabbing some break cleaner and spraying down where you think its coming from then playing the waiting game. You can also top off the system with water / coolant drive it around heat it up and then shut it off. WHen you turn the engine off it tends to build up pressure for a bit until it cools and thats a good time to start the hunt.

Im sure someone here can give you better ideas as where to look.
Goodluck!

[bamabacker]

I would check along the plastic tubes on the sides of the radiator after I checked the hoses and the drain plug (don't tighten that plug too much - hand tight is usually good enough). It is common for these plastic tubes to develop cracks over time, especially on the inlet hose side (top hose). Often, you will not see these cracks but you will see AF dripping down from the top half of the radiator on the sides. If this is the case and you have to pull the radiator (it's really an easy job), consider having the tube and gasket replaced and the radiator rodded out and cleaned vs. buying a new one. I just did this to mine and it cost about $115. A new radiator will cost about double. Radiator.com is a hard place to beat if you purchase a new one. Hope this helps!

[Bear River]

One of the best ways to find leaks like that is to get a pressure tester, so you can see what the system would behaive like when it is hot, without the heat. I think you can also get a fluorescent dye to add to the antifreeze. They you just look around there with a blacklight, and the leak should become apparent.

[bamabacker]

Hey Zipper,

Ever find where your coolant leak was coming from?

[Zipper43]

Hey bama;

Found it alright. Turned out to be coming from the lower intake manifold. Wasn't difficult to find after the gasket blew out completely on my way home from work. Replaced the gaskets and all seems fine now.

[bamabacker]

Good deal! Was it a hard job, and can you go into a little detail as to what you had to do to fix it? Thanks.

[cooljman1]

I had the same lower gasket coolent leak on my truck some years back.

[RangerRuss]

Not a hard job just tedious.

Russ