Hi, I have a 2000 Ranger with the 3.0 V6. I bought the truck around late November of last year. a month or two after, I started to notice a very small drip coming from underneath the engine and I identified the fluid as coolant. The drip is very small, and my radiator/coolant reservoir are just fine. Where could the leak be coming from?

Thanks,
Dylan

Could be from many places but I'd check the bottom of the water pump. It should have a weep hole on the underside near the pulley shaft. When the bearing seal fails and the pump will slowly leak from this spot. Eventually the bearings will fail and the pump is shot. Could also be any number of other hoses in the vicinity.

I just went and checked, and there is a bunch of coolant dripping from the bottom of the water pump, so that is probably the cause of the issue. Looks like I was searching in the wrong place the whole time. Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

Glad you found it before it got too bad. I had one that did that for over a year before the bearings completely went and the pump got real noisy. Better to replace it early than to risk a real problem.

Yeah. Its a pricey replacement but better to change the pump now, then wait till it fails later on down the road. I just had the tensioner pulley replaced because it got bent. There's always something lol.

Just saw this thread, so maybe too late, but if you've researched coolant leaks much on this motor, the timing chain cover is notorious for leaking, just resealed mine on 2000 Ranger with 3.0. Since you have to remove all the same components to get to the water pump as you do the timing cover, you might consider the cover, it's tricky but at least make sure it's not leaking.

After getting it looked at, it actually was the timing cover that was leaking after getting the pressurizer on it

I'm a newbie to this forum, name is Jesse. I purchased a 2002 Ranger 3.0 used a 5 months ago and find it to be a money pit. I recently replaced the water pump as it was weeping. Replaced heater and radiator hoses and thought it was finished, however I have a coolant leak and was told it is the timing chain cover. I have three questions: If there is oil under the timing chain cover to keep the chain and sprocket oiled, then how is coolant leaking from the cover? Secondly, can the cover be sealed from the outside with red RTV? Thirdly, is it dangerous to operate the vehicle with the leak and just replace coolant until I recoup from the previous repairs? Thanks group for being there for us. Jesse

It has 2 coolant passages in it, the inside gasket can leak internally and coolant will get into the oil, the other side of those passages is where your water pump bolts on.

It needs to come off to replace the gasket.