Wow is by any chance blowing white smoke? Are all of the hoses in good shape? How about the heater core?
Drinking coolant question
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Drinking coolant question
One of my friends is looking at another friend's '97 Exploder. It's drinking coolant, and fast. Between the high school and her house (about 5 miles) it completely empties the entire cooling system.
The oil seems clean with no antifreeze in it. Head gasket? I know the 4.0Ls in the Rangers are notorious for cracking if they overheat. Where could we look for a leak or a crack in the head/gasket? It's a SOHC, right?
Could you guys please give some price estimates on fixing it and what you think is wrong?
'97, 4.0L, auto. 208K.
Thanks for any help.
RP
Zach
The oil seems clean with no antifreeze in it. Head gasket? I know the 4.0Ls in the Rangers are notorious for cracking if they overheat. Where could we look for a leak or a crack in the head/gasket? It's a SOHC, right?
Could you guys please give some price estimates on fixing it and what you think is wrong?
'97, 4.0L, auto. 208K.
Thanks for any help.
RP
Zach
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 508
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From: Webster, NY
This seems to be a good amount of coolant you are talking about... so it must be going somewhere. My friend's old beater lost a ton of coolant like that... he found it in his oil. The oil was not milky, it just appeared that it was grossly overfilled on the dipstick. When he drained it he saw that it was coolant in there with the oil. Just another thing to check.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,516
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Pull the transmission dipstick, any coolant there?
I've added a couple of external trans coolers to friends trucks to solve this problem & capped off the trans cooler in the radiator.
But neither of those was leaking as much as this seems to be.
I've added a couple of external trans coolers to friends trucks to solve this problem & capped off the trans cooler in the radiator.
But neither of those was leaking as much as this seems to be.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Hmm...tranny. Never thought of that!!! (I drive a stick)
The oil was slightly low on the dipstick, so I don't believe it's going in the oil, especially considering the amount. I still haven't gotten down and looked at the engine thoroughly to see if I can find the source of the leak.
My friend is pretty intent on buying it, the girl selling it (ex gilfriend of mine no less lol) just wants to get rid of it, only asking 500 for it. I'll check your suggestions out as soon as I can.
Thanks for helping a Ranger guy and a couple of friends out!
RP
Zach
The oil was slightly low on the dipstick, so I don't believe it's going in the oil, especially considering the amount. I still haven't gotten down and looked at the engine thoroughly to see if I can find the source of the leak.
My friend is pretty intent on buying it, the girl selling it (ex gilfriend of mine no less lol) just wants to get rid of it, only asking 500 for it. I'll check your suggestions out as soon as I can.
Thanks for helping a Ranger guy and a couple of friends out!
RP
Zach
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,516
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From: SoCal
Yeah, I drive a stick also-always have, always will- thats why I never have to worry about transmission problems.
Strange that this is leaking so much coolant and no sign of where it's going.
It will be interesting to hear what you find.
Good luck with it.
Strange that this is leaking so much coolant and no sign of where it's going.
It will be interesting to hear what you find.
Good luck with it.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Newport News, VA
It has to be an external leak somewhere. A bad hose or leaking waterpump bearing. An engine ingesting that much coolant in that quick amount of time would be blowing white smoke and or seizing up from hydrolocked cylinders.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 139
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From: Cape Cod MA
My wifes 96 drinks coolant also, not as much as yours but it's definitely going somewhere and I think I know where.About a year ago I know it had a headgasket leak both of them!not to bad but bad enough that it was leaving a small puddle on the garage floor.I put some sealer in and it went away,so I am assuming that the leak has just gone the other way, into the combustion chamber. No white smoke but occasionaly I'll get a whiff of that sweet coolant smell from the exhaust.The truck runs fine but I know eventually I will have to replace the gaskets.Maybe this will help.
JMACC
JMACC
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 26
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My -96 explorer lost coolant and I couldn´t find out where the leak was. Sometimes it was a small puddle under the car but not the amount that disapeared. By chance i discovered it was the valve for the heater. It sprayed over the manifold and distrubitorbox and evaporated. Changed the valve (4 hoses to disconnect) and now it seems ok
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Ditto hagg26 on my 94 Explorer. The heater control valve is under the hood, near the firewall on passenger side. One of the couplings leaked and the coolant had places to hide before hitting the ground, like in the air filter housing. So also check if your air filter is soaked with coolant. When disassembling, the old plastic control valve nipples will likely break off inside the old hoses, but that isn't a problem. Just cut the old hoses that go to the engine a little shorter and cut brand new hoses that go to the heater core a few inches longer. Or better yet, if you have the time cut all new hoses.
Be ultra careful cutting the old hoses off the heater nipples. Don't cause any seal damage and don't torque the heater core nipples or your work will have just gone up exponentially. Hope this is your problem, because it will only cost you about $20.
Be ultra careful cutting the old hoses off the heater nipples. Don't cause any seal damage and don't torque the heater core nipples or your work will have just gone up exponentially. Hope this is your problem, because it will only cost you about $20.
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