I have a 2001 Ranger Supercab xlt, 2wd, at. Just got the truck from my dad, who took a turn for the worst, and i do not know the history of it. 84k miles. Getting back to the problem. The engine is running a little rough like it has a miss in it. It did throw a mis-fire code cyl # 3. So i checked spark, was getting spark, so thought maby injector. went 2 change the injector, found oil in Radiator overflow. Drained radiator found oil and pieces of gasket in the fluid. There is no antifreeze in the cranckcase though. Does it sound like a head gasket to anyone? it doesnt to me. Although, there is water seepage coming from behind the Timing Chain cover. Is this a common problem for the 3.0? Does anyone have any advise? Very Frustrated. Trying to find advise before i start pulling the front of the motor apart. Afraid i'm going to have to start somewhere though....

 

sounds like a head gasket...FWIW the 3.0s have a problem with the heads warping...the coolant seepage is a common problem

 

The front cover leak happens all the time. If it was internal, I think youd have coolant in your oil, not the other way around. Also, what kind of gasket material did you find? Id pressure test your cooling system before digging in. I wasnt aware that the 3.0 warping heads was a common problem, but ignoring the temp gauge sure is.

 

The gasket pieces that were coming out of the radiator was just like a paper gasket. I wish i would have left it together so i could do a leak down and compression test. The only thing im thinking is a burt lifter/ valve, cracked or warped head but the oil in the coolant is puzzling me. in most cases coolant would be in the crankcase not the other way around. I checked the ATF to see if there wass coolant in there, maby a tranny line bust inside the radiator. No coolant in the ATF and the mess that came out of the rad. looked like and had the consistancy of oil? Any suggestions?