hello i am having a problem where it was consuming coolant i took off the head and discoverd this do you think its blown? what type of material would yall recomend for the head gasket its a 1996 ranger3.0 i would like to remove the motor and trans all together is it to hard ?

 

Welcome to the forum

The metal ring around each cylinder is what "blows" when a head gasket fails
The left side top could be a place
You need to squeeze the metal part between thumb and finger and run them around the ring, feel for a thinner part where metal failed

The 3.0l use a composite gasket for Rangers, the Car 3.0l gaskets are different

There is not a "better" type of head gasket, out side of brands, no complaints from me using fel-pro

A head gasket blows from poor installation or over heating the engine, and that's it, only reasons they blow

Heads can crack as well, same symptoms as head gasket failure, they crank from over heating, heads can and should be pressure tested at a machine shop before being reused
Also surfaced

 

Thanks a lot!

 

It isn't really necessary to remove the engine and trans to replace head gaskets. If for other reasons, and with the proper lifting devices, you can remove the engine with the trans. I think most may say to separate first due to the angle required for extraction and the fluid mess.

 

Thanks for the fact.

 

Definitely not necessary to remove the engine to replace a head gasket. Just replaced a head about two months ago. Bought a new rebuilt head and gasket set and installed with no issues. Opted for a new head with valves from Rock Auto, it was cheaper than having the head rebuilt and planed locally. 3K miles later and she's running like a top. Good luck!

 

I have a Ford Ranger 1993 v6 3.0 XLT 4x4. The shop is cleaning and fixing the headers and valves, if any issues, they will replace them, however, the shop is confused that the originanl head gaskets have all top and bottom holes open. The new head gasket kit I bought has the top and bottom holes open as well. I read that there is a difference for the 3.0L and that is between the FWD and the RWD. The FWD are all the same, there is no difference, meaning all the holes are open top and bottom. The RWD has one marked as Left and one side is sealed and the Right thas another side sealed. My question is, is this accurate, is there a difference? I don't want the shop installing the wrong head gasket. Any information is greatly apprecitaed. I can send picutres of the original and new head gasket if necessary. Thank you