Antifreeze
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Mount Sunapee, NH
Antifreeze
I have a 99 Ranger 4x4 4.0 with 115,000 miles and one day I noticed that the temp gauge was reading very high. Once it cooled down I took the radiator cap off and noticed that the radiator was low, it was down just about a gallon. It's been about a month now and about 2000 miles later with no problems other than when I shut off the truck I an can smell antifreeze but don't see any drips on the engine, ground or in the oil. Today I put the heater on high and there was a pretty strong smell of antifreeze inside the cab, do you guys think the heater core is the problem or something else? I haven't seen any antifreeze inside the cab nor did the carpet feel wet or sticky from it in the pass. side area. Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Jeff
Thanks,
Jeff
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
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From: Connecticut
Have you been checking the heater hoses, as well?
One possibility is that the heater core could have a pinpoint leak which might be allowing enough coolant to get into the plenum (which would explain the coolant smell with the fan on) but yet there's not enough coolant at any given time to make its way on to the cab floor.
One possibility is that the heater core could have a pinpoint leak which might be allowing enough coolant to get into the plenum (which would explain the coolant smell with the fan on) but yet there's not enough coolant at any given time to make its way on to the cab floor.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Mount Sunapee, NH
Sorry it's been a while, I've been so busy the past week and I really appreciate the help, thanks. I did get a chance to look under the truck at the A/C condensor condensation and it didn't appear to be mixed with antifreeze. The other day I was driving the truck in 50 degree weather at 40-50 MPH for 20 mins with the heat dial in the red zone an the fan off and the truck barely made it up to operating temp. After this I got on the highway doing 65MPH and it warmed up a little more but not to where it should be at. So I put the dial at cool and kept the fan at the lowest setting and the truck warmed right up to operating temp, but as soon as I went to put the heat on the temp dropped off and there was very little heat comming out of the vents. There was no smell of antifreeze inside while driving or outside after I parked it. Any ideas on what could be causeing this?
Thanks,
Jeff
Thanks,
Jeff
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
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From: SW Va
Sounds like the themostat is stuck open, such that the engine is overcooling.
On your first post about smelling coolant in the cab. Thinking about what Rockledge & Bill said about slow leaks, check the conensate drain tube after a overnight rest. If the coolant leak is small, it could get dilluted wih AC condensate & you'd miss it.
Also thinking about your first reporting the radiator being down on coolant & having an apparant trend for it to want to overheat then, maybe it's time for a new Motorcraft radiator cap.
The coolant system pressure test Bill was suggesting, could uncover a pinhole leak & a radiator cap pressure tester could tattle on it, if it's bad.
Most autoparts stores have these esters on their "Loan-A-Tool" program.
Begining to sound like you may have more than one problem here.
Let us know how it goes.
On your first post about smelling coolant in the cab. Thinking about what Rockledge & Bill said about slow leaks, check the conensate drain tube after a overnight rest. If the coolant leak is small, it could get dilluted wih AC condensate & you'd miss it.
Also thinking about your first reporting the radiator being down on coolant & having an apparant trend for it to want to overheat then, maybe it's time for a new Motorcraft radiator cap.
The coolant system pressure test Bill was suggesting, could uncover a pinhole leak & a radiator cap pressure tester could tattle on it, if it's bad.
Most autoparts stores have these esters on their "Loan-A-Tool" program.
Begining to sound like you may have more than one problem here.
Let us know how it goes.
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I would be suspect of a head gasket. Coolant loss with no visable signs of a leak points me in that direction. Do you get any white smoke on initial startup or under hard acceleration? Any signs of the preverbial milkshake under the filler cap?
dws
dws
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Mount Sunapee, NH
I put in a new thermostat and that solved the running cool condition. I haven't seen any whitish smoke on hard acceleration or on start-ups. I've been checking the radiator daily and it hasn't been down at all in a couple of weeks now so I'm not too sure where it was going before, but I will be keeping an eye on it. Since changing the thermostat there is only a slight smell outside and no smell inside, even with the heat on. Under the oil fill cap there is no milky residue, nor is there any on the dip stick. Thanks for all the help you guys and keep up the good work. This site is the best!
Jeff
Jeff
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
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From: SW Va
Jeff, are you actually removing the radiator cap to check it's fluid level, or are you monitoring the overflow coolant tank level?????
When you first found the coolant level in the radiator was about a gallon low, was there any coolant at all in the coolant recovery tank????
When you first found the coolant level in the radiator was about a gallon low, was there any coolant at all in the coolant recovery tank????
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Mount Sunapee, NH
I've been checking the overflow when cool to see where the fluid level is in relation to the cool line on the side of that tank. I also have been checking under the radiator cap, and that has been full.
Jeff
Jeff