I have a 1992 Ranger, 3.0L V6 with 120K miles that I picked up a few months ago. I set out on a routine mission to change the thermostat and the temperature gauge sender unit (the temperature gauge was never getting above "C", and I thought a new thermostat would help, and while I was at it, why not change the sender unit too). Changing the thermostat went fine (the bolts holding down the thermostat housing were tough to loosen, but some extra force got them loosened up). But when installing the new temperature sender unit, it required a fair amount of effort to get it threaded into its opening. Then I refilled the radiator and started up the engine and found (to my dismay) that there was a steady trickle/stream of coolant coming from a small hairline crack just above where the temperature gauge sending unit is installed (is that the intake manifold that the unit is installed into?) and there seems to be another leak in the same general area just beneath the temperature sending unit. Can these leaks be repaired or patched? Is there something I (your average weekend shade-tree mechanic) can do or will this need to be handled by the pros? Thanks.

 

Yes if the one coolant leak is between the block and lower intake manifold you'll have to remove upper and lower intake manifolds and replace all the gaskets, when the manifolds are off take the lower one to a welding shop tosee if it can be repaired , the crack near the sending unit, if no repair can be made try to pick up a used one. good luck