Coolant Leak
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Joined: May 2003
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Coolant Leak
My son has a 93 Ranger 3.0L. It will sometimes leak a good amount of coolant, enough to make a puddle a couple of feet across. I have found that the spot where it is leaking is at the top of the timing cover where it meets the block. This is down under the alternator. It is not leaking anywhere else and is not running down from anywhere else. I can see the collant coming up from this spot and then running down onto the frame. This will happen only occasionally when the engine has run for 30 minutes or so(enough to get well heated up).
I searched through the forum and found similar problems but no explanations or fixes.
I consider using the stop leak products to be only a temporary fix. Can anyone shed any light on exactly what is causing this leak and the fix?
Thanks
I searched through the forum and found similar problems but no explanations or fixes.
I consider using the stop leak products to be only a temporary fix. Can anyone shed any light on exactly what is causing this leak and the fix?
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Don't use stop leak...it causes more problems than it solves sometimes.
I'm thinking perhaps its clogged somewhere. The timing cover under the alternator? I'm a 4.0L man myself, but I'm thinkig under the alt on the 3.slow would be the valve cover on the passenger side. A 3.0 person correct me if I'm wrong.
RP
Zach
I'm thinking perhaps its clogged somewhere. The timing cover under the alternator? I'm a 4.0L man myself, but I'm thinkig under the alt on the 3.slow would be the valve cover on the passenger side. A 3.0 person correct me if I'm wrong.
RP
Zach
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Sorry if my description mislead you, the alternator and its mounting bracket sit up on the top at the passenger side and to even see exactly where the leak was, I had to remove them. The leak is right where the block meets the timing cover.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Well...I'm not the man to go to for the 3.0L. Somebody else with it should chime in before too long. Possibly the water pump could be leaking into the timing cover. Don't quote me on that though.
RP
Zach
RP
Zach
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Greenvile, SC
Sorry Im tryin' to help off what I can remember, I'm currently overseas and don't return until the 18th(June) So all my reference material and notes, pictures are at home.
I'm having a rough time visuallizing my past 3.0s. However it sounds like it is fairly close to where the head meets up with the block. That area you are describing is close to quite a few engine components with Waterjackets, antifreeze filled hoses, and a bunch of other things.
If you don't mind..answering a few questions to help me pin point some possibilities.
1. What color is the coolant?... bright grn, rusty brown, other...
2. Has the coolant ever been a rusty brown?
3. Has the truck ever showed signs of Overheating?
4. Has the truck had any cooling related maintenance or repairs done recently? (thermostats, housings, hoses, fluid, etc.)
5. On the temp. gauge, has the needle ever started to fluctuate will driving or warming up? (going from cold to warm, Hot to cold, etc.)
If its convenient could you throw out a pic or two on the suspecious area?
Hnnmm....
I hope I'm just jumping the gun and you guys can find a breached gasket or housing over the weekend and fix it. These 3.0 cooling fixes can be a headache sometimes.
I'm having a rough time visuallizing my past 3.0s. However it sounds like it is fairly close to where the head meets up with the block. That area you are describing is close to quite a few engine components with Waterjackets, antifreeze filled hoses, and a bunch of other things.
If you don't mind..answering a few questions to help me pin point some possibilities.
1. What color is the coolant?... bright grn, rusty brown, other...
2. Has the coolant ever been a rusty brown?
3. Has the truck ever showed signs of Overheating?
4. Has the truck had any cooling related maintenance or repairs done recently? (thermostats, housings, hoses, fluid, etc.)
5. On the temp. gauge, has the needle ever started to fluctuate will driving or warming up? (going from cold to warm, Hot to cold, etc.)
If its convenient could you throw out a pic or two on the suspecious area?
Hnnmm....
I hope I'm just jumping the gun and you guys can find a breached gasket or housing over the weekend and fix it. These 3.0 cooling fixes can be a headache sometimes.
