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coolant bubbling in overflow resevior

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Old 12-10-2007
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coolant bubbling in overflow resevior

Hey guys i am just wondering if any of your trucks do this too? After i get done driving the ranger and shut it off i can hear bubbling coming from the overflow tank. So i get out and look in there and it looks like bubbles coming up from somewhere (not boiling!). I was wondering if this is normal? I have bled the system a couple times and nothing has changed. I also noticed there is no vent on my overflow tank which seems weird to me.
Any input is appreciated
thanks
 
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Old 12-10-2007
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I dont think mine does this
 
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Old 12-10-2007
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might be just a bad radiator cap ... or blown head gasket and exhaust is being pumped into the coolant as it runs ...

edit: not to hijack ... but ace awesome sig lol
 
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Old 12-10-2007
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so the water is not hot?
 
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that is a good question ... does it do it when its cold and has not been running or does it only do it after its warm or has been running?
 
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Old 12-11-2007
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it does it when it hot or cold. I also have a new radiator cap so you can rule that out.
thanks
 
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Old 12-11-2007
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blown head gasket and exhaust is being pumped into the coolant as it runs ...

I'd have to go with this one.
 
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Old 12-11-2007
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Whatever it is it's not good, My old Taurass was doing this, I ignored it and blew up the motor.
 
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Old 12-11-2007
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the weird thing is, im pretty sure it only bubbles after i shut it off... I will have to check and make sure later today
 
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did you check it today?
 
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Old 12-11-2007
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Mine did this for a few weeks, ended up taking out the head on it. The way I figured out what it was, was I put my fingers into the overflow tank and the bubbles coming through were hot enough to scald after the truck was running less than 30 seconds from a ice cold start. I figured it had to be combustion gases and started looking for a new engine for it. Now I sit here with a brand new engine and a blow up truck that I cant get to until probably spring
 
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Old 12-11-2007
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10-1 its a blown head gasket. why might i know this? cause I have been experiencing the same thing lately, along with overheating. Explorered several options, finally took it to a shop and they tested the emmisions content of my coolent, and BAM blown head gasket. lol
 
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Old 12-12-2007
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That would suck if it's your head gasket, especially on an 01!
Could it not just be air? The reservoir tank is for expansion isn't it? Cold line to hot line. I wouldn't get all bent out of shape just yet. Take it to a trusted shop and see what they say.
 
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Old 12-12-2007
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Man this is going to suck if it really is a headgasket! I checked and it does bubble running and just after i shut if off...Ive tried to bleed the system twice with no luck so maybe the exhaust is being pumped into the coolant tracks. The oil on the other hand looks fine..
 
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Old 12-12-2007
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Odds are.....It's a bad head gasket/warped head pressurizing your cooling system. Ugh. Keep a check on your oil to make sure it's not getting milky (coolant getting into the engine). That would be worse. Is the gauge showing any tendency toward heating up?
 
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Old 12-16-2007
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its less likely to have it leaking into your oil. check your exhaust, if it smells like antifreeze than its leaking into the combustion chamber. Another thing to do is grab your upper radiator hose firmly and see if there a bunch of pressure built up. if there is thats another thing pointing to a blown gasket. And of course, pay 50 bucks for a shop to check it out and tell you more or less for sure
 
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Old 12-17-2007
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It's more than likely going to be a head gasket. mine is doing the same thing. Takig mine in tomorrow. I got lucky and found a mech. that would do it for 500.00 al the other places wanted 1100.00 and up.
 
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Old 12-17-2007
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if it were cracked..would there be water in the oil?
 
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Old 12-17-2007
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yep if it does it while running.It's more than likely a bad hg
 
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Old 12-19-2007
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Mine ended up being 2 cracked heads!! OUCH! Got super lucky. Found the heads for 76.00 each, Auto Zone wanted 360.00 each. Good luck..
 
  #23  
Old 12-19-2007
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My 2003 ranger would let pressure into the overflow like that after I shut it off. It got worse and worse until it did it everytime I shut it off. It would build up pressure like crazy in there but wasn't hot! Would leak coolant past the cap. SO i cahnged the cap first thinking that had to be it, NOPE.

I took it in to ford 3times and they couldn't tell me what was wrong with it. On the fourth visit they replaced the thermostate and the whole overflow resivor and charged me a $100 deductible fee.

It never did it again! Just for some reason would not keep pressure in the Rad.
.

Hope this helps.
 
  #24  
Old 09-09-2011
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My Mazda 2500 is doing the same thing. That's why I joined today. I just bought this truck last week damn it! arghhh.
Looked on youtube real quick at a ranger head gasket replacement, not looking like something I want to get myself into.
 
  #25  
Old 09-09-2011
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Let me ask you all this- just talked to the shop I usually go to and they said it will run 1500 to 2000 dollars. that they need to send out parts to be machined and basically rebuild the entire engine, might as well get a new engine. Is this legit? I have always trusted this shop but they have recently had a whole new crop of folks working there and I'm a little skeptical. For instance, they use to look at it for free and now evidently they charge 50 bucks.

But will it cost that much with that much work involved?
 
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