Heya. I have a 93 Ranger v6 4.0 2wd. Having MANY problems with it recently. I seem to be "leaking" coolant from somewhere? No visual leaks under the hood or on the groung. No water leaking on the ground either, nor smoke. Nothing leaking inside, no film on windows. I don't think its the heater core...Maybe the thermostat, however I'm going through coolant like crazy. My heater won't work unless i keep putting coolant in it..and it seems to be overheating unless I keep adding the coolant....Once i add coolant..all is well for a few days..then back to problems again..Intake manifold gasket? I'm not car savvy enough to check the oil pan for milky liquids as i have no idea where it is or how hard it is to find. ALso having problems shifting into high gears. It will rev, then i let off the gas to force it into gear, then it goes in. Only after Ive been driving for awhile..never on a cold star. Its an automatic. Ideas?

 

look at the dipstick or oil filler cap for milky stuff as well as the pcv valve. or just change your oil. you should get it pressure tested. last summer i replaced a 4.0 because coolant leaked into the engine and locked it up. i suggest doing this as soon as possible. could be leaking head gasket/intake/cracked head. good luck

 

Since it's an automatic, check the trans fluid also. Could be a leaking trans cooler

 

My overall impression from your post is that you are needing to add coolant frequently, but have no visible signs of leakage to the outside.
This should immediately send up red flags!

That coolant HAS to be going somewhere. And if it isn't leaking to the outside or through heater core, then there is very strong probablility that it is leaking either into your combustion chambers or into your crankcase. Either one is not good, and requires IMMEDIATE repairs as required, else the repair bill is gonna get considerably larger very rapidly.

Get it fixed - NOW!

Coolant leaking into combustions chambers can frequently be observed by the symptoms of "steam" in exhaust or by the distinctive odor of coolant mixed in the exhaust.
Coolant leaking into crankcase should be, as previously stated by other posters, diagnosed by discolaration of the oil, but once it gets this bad, things may have gone pretty far.
Again, I would resolve this issue ASAP.

Thumper47

P.S. Now, if the cooling system was recently drained, flushed, or otherwise brought to a condition of low coolant level, you could just have "air pockets" which are working themselves out, requiring topping off of fluid level.
I have seen similar symptoms resulting from defective radiator cap, also.
Expect the worst; hope for the best. Good Luck!
I believe, from your description, that the transmission problem is unrelated to the coolant problem. But whadda I know???
Check ATF level.

 

Thanks (= I didn't think the tranny problem was related to the coolant..it was more of a seperate issue thing. I will get it fixed asap. Thanks so much for your help.