Coolant disappearing to ... where?

bonkerpro · 09-29-2009, 10:36 AM

My 2001 Ranger truck (4.0L) is losing coolant, but I can't figure out where it is going. 118,000 miles + or - a few on the truck. Oil changed routinely at every 5,000 miles.

- Nothing in the oil.
- No visible leaks.

The engine has never overheated, never failed to start, and runs as strong as it did new.

Three weeks ago I added a half-gallon of coolant. Last week I added the rest of that gallon.

The overflow/fill reservoir is currently empty and it does not fill up when the vehicle is hot. (Hose possibly blocked?)

The radiator cap has been tested and shows to be operating properly. (Could there be a problem where the hose connects to the radiator at the cap?)

Other than those who questions I don't know where else to look, so ideas on where this coolant is going will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

bonkerpro · 09-29-2009, 03:59 PM

Belay all that.

Last evening (Monday) I got in late from the trip with my wife and posted the "where is my coolant going" post before going outside this morning.

So when I got outside after posting this AM I found a small stain under the front edge of the engine compartment and have thus managed to isolate the leak to a place on the right side of the radiator. One interesting angle of the deal is that it did not really show until after the first cool spell of the season.

The upshot is that I am due for a radiator replacement...

BroncoJoe19 · 09-29-2009, 05:43 PM

Hey.. I know a great radiator replacement guy in California! ElectrolysisDoc is the man!

BTW.. I just read your sig. You WIN! One thing I know for sure is that you never argue with a guy holding a chain saw.

bonkerpro · 09-29-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe19

Hey.. I know a great radiator replacement guy in California! ElectrolysisDoc is the man!

BTW.. I just read your sig. You WIN! One thing I know for sure is that you never argue with a guy holding a chain saw.

Thanks, but I'll have to have the repair done closer to home! In fact I dropped it off at a shop just after lunchtime today.

BTW, I was reared in a house full of boys and after I married ended up with a house full of girls. I have to win based on something other than hormonal barometers.

theoldwizard · 09-29-2009, 06:45 PM

I have 3 chain saws ! 2 gas, 1 electric. Inherited all when Dad died. He heated with wood that he cut. Split wood by hand with a maul and a wedge at 70 !

3 cars, 3 weed wackers, 2 lawnmowers, leaf blower, lawn edger, rototiller, snow blower, snowmobile, Honda VTX 1800, and a 115 HP Mercury 4 stroke outboard ! (I cheated. A couple of those belong to my son, but they are all "based" out of my garage.)

BroncoJoe19 · 09-29-2009, 07:18 PM

bonkerpro... forget it... with all those ladies in the house - you lose!

Let's see Wiz...
I have 1 car, 1 MPV (Bronco), 1 minivan, 1 suv, 1 motorhome, 2 minibikes, 1 rototiller, 2 snowblowers, 1 R/C diesel truck, 1 hehe electric jeep, a bunch of R/C electric cars and trucks, an electric leaf blower, 2 electric chain saws, and a compressor!
IF that doesn't match your three chain saws, then I have a side by side 12 guage.

So... who has the most testosterone now? Hehehe... gotta love this stupid game.

Bonkerpro,
With all those ladies in the house, you may want to get one of those side by sides, and be busy cleaning it when the boy friends start showing up. You might want to start practicing humming the theme song to "The Deliverance" Then you can go to bed with a smile on you face.

bonkerpro · 09-29-2009, 08:16 PM

Hehe! Well, the fact is my bunch is mostly grown, married and/or gone. I should update the signature.

I forgot the 5 kw generator. Only one cylinder there, but it's like insurance. As long as you don't have a need it seems like a waste, but if you do need it, it is the only thing that will do!

But I can also tell you that a blow dryer will throw the overload on the generator. Don't worry about how I know this, just trust me...

The coolant issue will be cured when I get the truck back tomorrow.

BroncoJoe19 · 09-30-2009, 04:35 AM

Oh yeah... the coolent issue!

I hope it all works out for you.

A couple of weeks ago I changed the intake manifold on my crown vic becuase it cracked and leaked coolent. I still have the slightest hint of coolent smell, I don't see it leaking anywhere, but ofcourse there are a lot of places that I can't see in that crowded engine compartment, but I am hoping that it is just old stuff burning off. Keep your fingers crossed for me, ok? The coolent level is down about a pint, but that might be that it burped itself. Again fingers crossed, please.

bonkerpro · 09-30-2009, 06:00 AM

Wiz, I take that the wood splitting is a hobby? Otherwise, all your time is taken up with the mechanical contraptions!

bonkerpro · 09-30-2009, 05:45 PM

So I got the truck back and all seems well, but the new radiator looks different from the previous one. There is no cowling piece on top so I can see the fan. I'm trying to decide if they left it off, or if the radiator is different.

All the hose connections look right, match up, etc.

I've been using this shop for more than 10 years, but the founder died two years ago and several of the techs have changed. It is always possible that something slipped through the cracks.

How can I determine if the radiator is exactly the one that should have been installed?