I am leaking coolant from what appears to be the lower intake manifold on my 1997 ford ranger with a 4.0 liter V6 engine at the upper coolant port on the driver side. Hopefully I don't have a cracked manifold or head. I was wanting to know the best way of draining the coolant to perform this job on my application? Please and thanks in advance.

 

There's got to be a petcock on the radiator's lower tank.

 

Oh, there is on the lower passenger side tank.... that's all I got to do? That is all I have to drain from? Or pull the lower hose? That will drain enough coolant out to perform an intake manifold job?

 

Common leak point on the 4.0l OHV
The heads are cast iron and the lower intake is aluminum, so dis-similar metals
As coolant flows between them it can eat away at the aluminum and gasket material, IF(BIG IF) the coolant is older, and only if coolant has expired
So if using green coolant after 2 years this corrosion will start to occur

Its not a design flaw its a service issue, and in a 1997 it could have occured with previous owners not changing coolant as required

 

RonD,
Attached to this post is a short uv dye and light test of the leak...

What do you think?

 

I Just did this last weekend, there should be a plastic cover under the radiator with for 10mm bolts and 2 push grommets, take that off so the coolant can flow easier without plashing on the lower cover.