I have a 99 Ranger 3.0 4x4.

Bought it this spring and have driven it a fair amount. It blew out the side of the radiator Saturday morning at 0630 in the rain of course. It has (perhaps) an issue with the slush module. I believe this because when I start it there is zero oil pressure or temp until it has been running a few minutes. The the oil pressure pops up, temp pops up and the check gauge light goes out. Occasionally it would red line the temp and then fall right back into the normal range , slightly below halfway on the temp gauge.

Saturday I was driving on the interstate , temp redlines and the oil pressure was bouncing from zero to normal. Had seen all this before when it started pinging and rattling like a diesel and then lost power. It dies when I pulled to the side of the road. Steam was rolling everywhere and I was in a super bad spot. It started back up and I drove about 1/4 mile up the on ramp to a safer spot.

An hour or so later when I went back I added coolant and it poured straight out the bottom. Radiator blew out the side column. Got a pricey tow and got it back to my garage. There it sits.

It turned over and started but it was very hard starting and the starter sounded real draggy. Like a low battery even after being on the tender all day. The radiator is obviously shot so I am unsure how to diagnose any other problems without an intact cooling system.

I guess I am wondering what the chances are that the engine is cooked, blown head gasket, cracked block etc. or put a new radiator/thermostat/cap on it and see what happens.

 

Welcome to the forum

Rad cap is bad, probably from overheating more than a few times, lol, but least of your problems
Yes, it reads like you cooked the engine

You have one or two blown head gaskets, and possibly cracked a head or both
And most likely have a spun main bearing, the slow cranking

Radiator issue was not the cause just a result
When any engine shows a sign of overheating you need to pull over, and wait until engine cools off, check fluids, limp home if possible AFTER engine cools off

When an engine overheats the head metal expands and CRUSHES the head gaskets, if metal expands too much more it CRACKS, simply the way it works

When head gasket "blows' then the 900+PSI pressure in the cylinder can go into cooling system, cooling system is set to handle 16psi........................
So something BLOWS
i.e. try to put just 200PSI in one of your tires......................see how that goes, lol

In any case I would shop for another engine and replace radiator

 

I can't believe that was only my second post !! I've been lurking forever !! Sounds like I may just be in the market for a new truck. Got too much going on to swap a motor right now. I will see if it cranks any faster tonight. This just after I did sway bar bushings, end link bushings, upper control arms and shocks all around.

 

Don't bother....That engine is toast..

 

Im sure it is but it actually started ..... was really hard to get it to start but it did. ranked slowish ....sounded weird. Runs a little rough but started and idles pretty smooth. Also shooting a bit of black sludge out the exhaust. I agree it is toast.

Gonna see if anyone on FB marketplace is interested. Otherwise its scrap.