Big Problems
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From: Fargo
Big Problems
Overheats. Chugs. Rattling sound. Leaks oil. Could hear water gurgling in exhaust followed by white smoke for awhile until 2 miles. Replaced thermostat, water pump, fluid change. Got new belt and idle pully but haven't installed. Could it be blown head gasket? Crap Battery? Insight.
Welcome to the forum
What year Ranger?
If its a 4.0l OHV engine 1990-2000 then yes probably a blown head gasket or cracked head, 4.0l OHV were known to crack heads if ever overheated
There is a simple an FREE test for a cylinder leak into cooling system. i..e blown head gasket or cracked head
Called the Glove Test
For the test you will need a latex glove and rubber band, OR sandwich bag, OR a balloon, OR, a Condom, yes condom, lol
Also vacuum cap, OR gum, OR putty
Cold engine
Remove radiator cap, coolant should be down at least 2" below cap opening, more is fine, drain some coolant if needed to get the 2" of air at the top or the radiator
Remove overflow hose from rad cap opening, plug that opening in rad cap with vacuum cap, or gum or putty
Disconnect Coil Packs 4 wire connector, you want a No Start
Put Latex glove over rad cap opening and seal it to rad with rubber band, OR use a balloon or a condom instead of the Glove
Cooling system is now air tight
Crank engine and watch the glove
If glove bounces/inflates then you have a cylinder leak
If glove just lays there then you don't
If glove bounces then start removing 1 spark plug at a time, and crank engine again, repeat until glove stops bouncing
Put last spark plug removed back in, hand tight is fine, and crank engine to confirm glove bounces again
It is possible to have 2 cylinders leaking, so if you remove a spark plug and glove bounces LESS but still bounces then remember that cylinder, and continue on removing spark plugs until glove stops bouncing.
You want to see if one 1 head has the crack or both heads do
And no, there is almost never "coolant in the oil" when you blow a head gasket these days, it can happen but not as common as it was in the old days, a cracked head can never put coolant in the oil
What year Ranger?
If its a 4.0l OHV engine 1990-2000 then yes probably a blown head gasket or cracked head, 4.0l OHV were known to crack heads if ever overheated
There is a simple an FREE test for a cylinder leak into cooling system. i..e blown head gasket or cracked head
Called the Glove Test
For the test you will need a latex glove and rubber band, OR sandwich bag, OR a balloon, OR, a Condom, yes condom, lol
Also vacuum cap, OR gum, OR putty
Cold engine
Remove radiator cap, coolant should be down at least 2" below cap opening, more is fine, drain some coolant if needed to get the 2" of air at the top or the radiator
Remove overflow hose from rad cap opening, plug that opening in rad cap with vacuum cap, or gum or putty
Disconnect Coil Packs 4 wire connector, you want a No Start
Put Latex glove over rad cap opening and seal it to rad with rubber band, OR use a balloon or a condom instead of the Glove
Cooling system is now air tight
Crank engine and watch the glove
If glove bounces/inflates then you have a cylinder leak
If glove just lays there then you don't
If glove bounces then start removing 1 spark plug at a time, and crank engine again, repeat until glove stops bouncing
Put last spark plug removed back in, hand tight is fine, and crank engine to confirm glove bounces again
It is possible to have 2 cylinders leaking, so if you remove a spark plug and glove bounces LESS but still bounces then remember that cylinder, and continue on removing spark plugs until glove stops bouncing.
You want to see if one 1 head has the crack or both heads do
And no, there is almost never "coolant in the oil" when you blow a head gasket these days, it can happen but not as common as it was in the old days, a cracked head can never put coolant in the oil
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kurth
4.0L OHV & SOHC V6 Tech
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Nov 15, 2016 05:34 PM
