My ‘99 Ranger XLT with 3.0 flex engine started to run rough a few days ago. Finally the check engine light came on. Had a friend check for codes and came up with P0303 which I understand is misfire cylinder #3. Thinking maybe a bad plug or wire, I parked it in the garage until I had time to work on it. The next day I needed to back it out of the garage and parked it in the driveway. I then noticed a puddle of antifreeze on the floor. I then checked the radiator and overflow tank and both were what appeared to be totally empty. I then started the engine, letting it run for a while, and then checked the exhaust. What came out was just water, no antifreeze. I also noticed a couple places along the exhaust pipe where water, not antifreeze, were dripping. I had not noticed the engine running hot prior to this problem. Also, the location of where the antifreeze was on the floor was no where near where the water pump would have been, so imdon’t think it came from the weep hole in the pump. Does anyone have any ideas as to what is going on?

 

Exhaust on all gasoline engines drip water, its part of the combustion process, burning gasoline with air produces H2O, water in a vapor, and it condenses back to water in the exhaust system
If outside air is humid then even more water in the exhaust, also why exhaust systems rust is badly

The misfire wouldn't cause coolant leaking or water in the exhaust
A blown head gasket or cracked head can cause a misfire, but anti-freeze in the exhaust, sweet smell can't miss it

If you have a coolant leak then that's why the radiator was low, and overflow was as well, overflow replaces coolant as it is lost from a leak in engine system

Best way to find a leak without tools is to fill up radiator, water is fine, warm up engine and park on some card board
Shut off engine and wait
You should see it dripping over time

You can also rent a Cooling System Pressure tester
Just a rad cap with hand pump and pressure gauge
Hook it up to cold engine
Pump it up to 20psi and look for dripping coolant, much easier to track down in cold engine

 

Ended up taking it to a local repair shop. After doing a compression test and cooling system test it was determined to need new plugs, wires, and lower radiator hose clamp tightened.