water pump?
 

Hello all. Brand new to the forum but not to Rangers. I did a search but not sure I did it right so here is my dilema. On the way to work this am had to stop at a light. As I took off I heard a strange, but not alarming,noise. I looked at my gauges and all was well but when I looked in the rear view there was a huge cloud behind me. I immediately pulled over and shu it off. Popped the hood and there was antifreeze everywhere. Went back with a trailer that afternoon. Put 2 gallons of water in it and it was runnin out about as fast as I could put it in. In the shop I put water in and got under to look. Highest point I could see water running out was bottom of water pump. Now I have had water pumps go out but they usually leak when you park and shut off. Is it possible that the pump had a catostrophic failure while driving ? I am mechanically able to fix the problem just curious if I need to be looking elsewhere. The oil is clean and clear as it can be. Sorry for the length of this. I am an average auto mechanic but I dont want to just throw parts at the problem and hope I fix it. Hoping to gain knowledge from yalls wisdom. Thank you.

Make sure the heater and coolant hoses aren't leaking. The newer (98-2011) trucks have plastic tees everywhere that are prone to cracking and dumping/spraying your coolant everywhere.

You also should tell us what year and engine you have.

2002, 4 litre

In that case, could also be the thermostat housing.

Ditto on all the junk plastic components in the Coolant system:
PlasticThermoStatHousing, PlasticHeaterControlValve, PlasticTankedRadiator, PCVCoolantLoopPlasticTeeAssembly...
all of these can be replaced with Metal parts.
If your Coolant system hasn't been flushed+refilled in the last 2yrs,
or any components either original or 6yrs+old, time to consider replacement.

Can you explain a little more about metal replacement parts. For example a brass 1/2 plumbing tee? I'm also ready to flush the coolant and would like to replace plastic parts.

Click here for metal HeaterCoolantLoop~PCVCoolantLoop 5/8~5/16~5/8"=16~8~16mmHoseBarb ReducerTee's
that replaces junk plastic FordMotorCraft Tee+Hoses factory assemblies.
Click here for metal HeaterControlValve VacToClose 5/8~5/8"=16~16mmHoseBarb FourSeasonsFactoryAir# 74603
that replaces junk plastic FordMotorCraft# yL2z-18495-aa\yg368.
You've got a 2011 2.3L; I've got a 2001 4.0L; so consider those differences.
Hope this helps. More info at
https://2001fordexplorersporttrac.fa...nt_HeaterValve
https://2001fordexplorersporttrac.fa...t_Radiator+Cap