Hey guys I have a question for you guys that know a lot more than me. I am having issues with my Ranger. I have a 1996 OHV 4.0L 4x4 ranger and she just started overheating and leaking coolant from the back of the engine. I have not checked the smoke coming off of the tailpipe BUT when it overheats white smoke comes out under the hood and as I said earlier coolant is leaking out of the back of the engine. The coolant looks like it is leaking down the oil pan or in the general area. I know that some of these symptoms can mean a blown head gasket but I am wondering if there is anything else that can cause this. Because if it is not a head gasket yet then I can just fix her up and drive her around for a little more. The truck does have 207000 miles on her. But to some it up again I am not driving her while this is going on so that if it is not the head gasket I can fix it. But my ranger is over heating and leaking coolant from the rear of the engine and I can not see the leaks unless I look under the truck and it looks like it is by the oil pan area so that you guys can know about the general area. It is not in the front it is a rear leak and it is leaking quite a bit and only leaks after I drive it. And also there is white smoke that come out from under the hood once it starts to over heat. I hope it is not the head gasket but just let me know what you guys think and what it might be so that I can try to fix it and dive it a couple more months.

Thanks guys

 

Welcome to the forum

White smoke out the TAIL PIPE is a blown head gasket
But be warned..........running a 4.0l engine over 3/4 on the temp gauge WILL CRACK A HEAD, so do NOT let it get that hot EVER

On both sides of all engines are core holes, that's how they get the sand out after making the engine block with molten metal
They fill these core holes with core plugs, which are often called Freeze Plugs, these plugs can rust and leak, and there are plugs near the back on the side

4.0l OHV has an aluminum lower intake manifold, it has coolant passages inside thats allow coolant to flow from one head to the other
These did have leak issues at passenger side front and drivers side rear, where they connect to the heads.


You can rent cooling system pressure test kit
Its a radiator cap with a pressure gauge and hand pump attached
You pump up COLD cooling system to 20psi and then look for the leak(s)
Much easier to find leaks on a COLD engine