Ranger 3.0 V6 Symptoms:
Visible coolant leak at passenger side timing cover.
Combustion gas detected in coolant at radiator neck.
Trace of coolant in oil.

Obviously the timing cover gasket has failed to cause external leak.

Is it possible for the timing cover gasket to also fail internally to cause coolant in oil?

Lastly, would an internal timing cover gasket failure allow combustion gas in crankcase (i.e.,piston blowby) to enter the cooling system through the failed portion of the timing cover gasket?

Thanks for you help!

 

Coolant in the oil is a solid sign that a head gasket has failed, or a head has cracked. Combustion gasses in the cooling system is another solid sign. The fact that you have a timing cover leak, which seems to be quite common in the 3.0, probably means at some point, the coolant level got low enough to cause a high temp condition. This usually helps the head gasket to fail, or crack a head. Welcome to the forum!

 

That sounds like a pretty good analysis of my problem, Thanks.