Hey guys 👋 I have a 2001 ford ranger 3.0 V6

so on my way home yesterday I noticed some smoke coming from the passenger side headlamp. I could smell coolant burning as well so I pulled over immediately.

I figured my upper radiator hose must have clocked out. The smoke seemed to be coming from the upper radiator hose but, from the side that is actually connected to the radiator However after pulling out and, inspecting the hose I was unable to find any rips, tears or, holes.

So I put everything back and decided to watch it as it warmed up this time so I could see what’s happening. Oddly, it seems that coolant is some how slightly escaping from the hose (even though the clamp is on)and dripping on to the radiator, creating a smoke screen. Anyone know what can cause this? should I replace the top hose anyways even though it looks good? Btw I had gotten the code P0125 a couple weeks before any of this but it went away and hasn’t came back up since could that have something to do with this strange leak? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

P0125 Insufficient Coolant Temperature for Closed Loop Fuel Control

This could could be set if coolant in engine was low, the temp sensor(ECT sensor) was not immersed in coolant so showed a lower temp, so it could be related to a leak(low coolant level), but not set because of a leak


If that's all the info you have for the leak point, then yes replace the hose and clamp

You can rent a cooling system pressure tester
Basically a radiator cap with a gauge and hand pump
You install the cap and pump up pressure to 20psi, system runs at 16psi, on COLD engine
Then watch if pressure drops, if so there is a leak
And because coolant is COLD you can see where it is leaking out, no "smoke"/evaporation to hide it