Hi Everyone,
New to the site......drive an 87 Ford Ranger Ext Cab daily - 100 miles round trip - looking to get some good information from this site.....

11/29/05 - mechanic states blown head gskt - did dust test on head - no cracks - 12/9/05 - bk to mechanic - same symptons - this time head is cracked - replaced with rebuilt head - 12/28/05 - same symtoms - bk to mechanic - states he was working on piston # 2 previous times - now its piston #3 - 1/16/06 - bk to mechanic - pressure tested radiator - 18 lbs pressure -dropped to 14 in less than 2 seconds - no water under truck - oil is overfilled (milkly - sure its where the water is going) - bk to mechanic......do I give up? States that the block does not have a crack......bought motor from this outfit - I'm on round # 4.......any thoughts?

Amy

 

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Welcome to FTE!!!

Do you know if it's a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder?

I'm not feeling very good about the mechanic, might be time to find a new one.

Don't drive it with coolant in the oil, it will damage the bearings, a lot more $$$.

 

I would say its time for a new mechanic. If it's a 6 cylinder, then the 2.9 was known for its cracked heads. As a matter of fact, theres a few posts on this website that show pictures and what not. If its the 2.3 4 banger, send me a private message by clicking on my user name and then click send private message, and I will tell you how to replace the head gasket yourself, as I have worked on these engines for a while now...

 

I'm posting this for Amy, it was PMed to me.


Thanks for the info Ken. It is a 2.91 - 6 - I purchased this motor from this business/mechanic 3/3/04 - came with a 24 month/24,000 mile warranty - since the motor (rebuilt I'm sure) came from them I carried it back - I was way past the warranty as I drive 100 miles a day - everyday - I'm calling them today to see what they suggest - my own thoughts are that they should replace/rebuild the motor and not charge me the full fee to do so.....I've got around $700 in services so far - when they "fixed" it this past time on 1/6 - he did not charge me - I'm stuck about what to do....I want to drive the truck.....I'm really discouraged at this point..I can't believe it's that hard to get it right after 3 times at it.

Amy

 

Now that we know it's a 2.9L V-6, the most common cause of coolant in the oil is a cracked head. If you go to the top of this forum you'll see a thread call "technical information", there are pics of the location were the head cracks. You can print them and show them to your mechanic.

I don't know what they're doing to the piston when you have a leaky cooling system, they have nothing to do with the cooling system. Did they do a compression test, if they did then that could give them a reason, post the results if they did.

 

Amy, I appologize. I didn't realize you were a girl. In the private message I sent back I think I might have misunderstood that. So again, my appologies. In the meantime, lets get your beast fixed!

 

No problem about the girl part.......I do alot of my own work on the Ranger, oil changes - changed out the water pump....some things I leave to to professionals - save money where I can - I called and spoke with the owner's son yesterday - haven't heard bk yet.....stated that they obviously were missing something and it wasn't my fault (duh) - don't know if they've done a compression test or not - waiting to hear back on what they intend to do. I did ck around in this site yesterday and saw the information on cracked heads - I have printed that out and intend to use it as information when I talk with them today - if I thought I could do it myself - I would - but not sure I'm that mechanically inclined

 

Keep us updated on the truck.

 

Just got off the phone with the mechanic - he has not even looked at it.....states that he is going to do something to it so he can drive it for a while.....can't figure out what keeps making it get water - said it would be a while before he would decide what to do as he is confused at the moment........I mentioned your site and the "clues" for the head - didn't have much too say about that......said he would like to drive it some distance (he's been driving it 10-15 miles) more like what I do - 100 day to see if he can figure out what is going on with it......said that they put a compression test on it each time before I came to pick it up....didn't state what it read...I'll keep you updated as I speak to them.

 

OK - got news from the mechanic on my 87 Ford - can't believe what he's telling me - they took the hoses off the heater core (left hose - plenty of water - right hose - no water). Told me that they have overode the heater core (not connected) and have been driving it for 2 days - let it idle 30 minutes - drove on the interstate, etc. Wants me to come pick it up with no heater core attached! Asked him why and he stated that the heater core was not heating the truck and that he believed that was the problem with the overheating.....wants me to have my regular mechanic replace heatercore and then if I have a problem again come back to see him....I'm getting ready to call him and say I'm picking up my truck, I will have my regular mechanic put in the heater core (he doesn't want to do it - said its a hassle) and if I have a problem again, he is going to reimburse me what it costs to have the heater core removed/replaced.......I want to be finished with these guys. Any ideas about the heater core? When my regular mechanic put the compression test on it, it had 17 lbs of pressure and dropped to 14 within a minute and continued to drop - no water on ground, no water in passenger side truck - water pump is working properly.....what to do?

 

Before doing anymore work find out if you still have coolant in the oil.

If you do need a heater core it's a 15 minute job, eeaassyy, look at your manual.

 

I have taken it to my regular mechanic - he's been working on my stuff for over 25 years - he is anxious to check the heater core to see about blockage - check to make sure there is no coolant in the oil - guys that have been working on it told me yesterday that they found none - at this point not sure how much I trust their opinion but I definitely trust the one its with now. Should know something about it by tomorrow - he's going to look at the heater core today. Hopefully soon I'll be driving the truck! I did speak to the owner yesterday of the shop it has been at for the last 2 weeks and told him that if the same thing happens again with the smoke out the exhaust - I'm looking for him to reimburse me for the cost of putting in a new heater core. I have my fingers crossed.

 

Afternoon - I have had the heater core replaced - nice and warm in the cab- I have had no further occurences with the truck overheating - still seem to have some white smoke out of the exhaust when I first get started in the mornings - after about 10-15 minutes this all clears out - I'm hoping that I don't have any further problems with the heads - only time will tell at this point. Driving it 100 miles a day every day. You guys have been a great help in giving suggestions and being a sounding board.

Best to you and be back soon!

 

Glad to hear it's doing good now, be sure to check in and let us know how things are going.