edit: Issue is fixed. New water pump, thermostat, and thermostat housing.

Sorry for another post here, but unfortunately a few problems are still present. I was hoping someone could help me diagnose the source of my leak the best they can.

I finished changing all my intake gaskets from upper to lower due to failed fuel rail gasket and what I thought was the source of my coolant leak. Once finished I filled the truck up with coolant and did not notice any leaks. Let it warm up, top off, drove for a bit - all was good. This morning I checked my levels and noticed I lost coolant. As I was filling it back up I saw my coolant start to drip from the bottom of the water pump as I was toping it off. It eventually stopped. Drove 20min to work, parked and noticed no more leaks. Kept checking every 30min for a leak. No leak. Drove a mile to get lunch, parked. Started dripping again. Eventually stopped. Drove back to work - no leak....

Sorry for such a long description, but I’m hoping it leads to a possible solution. Why is the leak intermittent?

 

Water pumps have a "weep hole" on the under side of the shaft case, it will start to leak when the bearing seal starts to leak, this also means the bearing will start to wear out faster so, time for a new water pump
Yes, it can come and go........at first, then it will leak full time

Like any cooling system leak it will leak more under pressure, i.e. after engine is fully heated up, so cold it might not leak as much

 

Looks like a pain to replace. Can’t wait!

I’ve been looking for videos on youtube, but I’m having a tough time finding tutorials for the year of my truck. Would you happen to know what other years are synonymous to a 97 4L V6? Some videos say I need to remove the radiator, some say no, etc.

edit: just for reference here’s a few pictures of under the front driver side frame. I notice a little green liquid, but it’s hard to tell if it’s mixed with anything else such as power steering fluid due to grim/dirt - ONLY on drivers side. Usually have to top that off every month or month and a half. My question is, would a leak at the water pump gasket spray coolant that far? I can’t imagine it on the bottom of the frame, let alone towards the bumper

Frame/front bumper

Frame

 

No, not that hard

You need to take off the fan shroud, so also the fan and fan clutch, but radiator can stay

google: ford ranger 4.0 l ohv water pump replacement

You have an OHV engine not a SOHC engine

The fan clutch is the hardest part
There is a nut threaded on to the water pump's shaft, you have to loosen and remove that nut BUT............the water pump is free to spin, lol, so you need a way to hold the water pump still, while loosening the nut
There is a wrench set for that, seen here: You can usually rent this set for $10
The longer wrench fits the nut, shorter one goes around/over the water pump pulley bolts so holds the shaft still

You can also use a strap wrench around the pulley to hold it and any wrench that fits the nut

Some fan clutches use reverse threads, 4.0l OHV doesn't, so unscrews like any nut, counter clockwise

 

I kept reading that people are using a 1 1/2 or 36mm wrench. I rented a removal tool which comes with a 36mm and seems a bit too big. I keeps slipping and I'm nervous to strip the nut. All the videos I've watched people were using a 1 1/2 wrench. Unfortunately, there's not enough room with the water pump pulley bolt tool and pipe or adjustable wrench. It seems like the nut is 1 5/6 or 34mm...

 

My Ford Clutch wrench set has 36mm works fine on my '94 4.0l, and any other Fords I have used it on

Nut is snug, but not tight so you won't strip it

 

That's the problem - the 36mm is too big. Just fitting it over the nut there's too much space between the sides of the nut and inside wrench. It just keeps slipping. The only thing I can think of is that the 36mm wrench is rounded on the inside. The hell....

I'm thinking a ratchet strap wrench and using a pipe wrench

 

Maybe it's a 3rd party clutch so smaller nut

 

Update - coolant leak seems to be fixed. Swapped out water pump, thermostat, and housing. The issue with the nut was the 36mm wrench I rented from Autozone was rounded so it was slipping. Went to Advanced Auto who had the correct 36mm wrench and it worked fine.

Thank you for your help

 

Good work

Thanks for the update and the FIX