lets get this out of the way first... im somewhat of a green horn, so i may need a thorough explanation.

i've replaced the thermostat housing, water pump, and hoses. i no longer have any leaks in those areas... however it is absolutely pouring coolant out the bottom of engine/crank case (?) and running all the way down the frame.

i checked the oil, and it looks fine (from what i've read it's supposed to appear milky if there has been a chemical reaction) which this has left me absolutely stumped. another gentleman had suggested the lower intake valve? and others had warned me of the dreaded head gasket problem.

any input would be awesome and much appreciated considering i have no clue about the lower intake or head gasket.

coolant running down the front or the back of the engine? If you have an autozone near you I would rent one of their cooling system pressure testers, that is the best way to pin point coolant leaks.

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it appears to be the front. right where the oil pan meets the engine. it seems like the gasket or something isn't sealed anymore and i mean it just drenches coolant at a very steady rate all over the place after about 2 minutes of the truck being started. it doesn't appear to be coming from a weephole of any kind, or a line. but once again, the oil doesn't appear to be milky, so im profoundly confuse.

it doesn't help that i spent my last dollar on the housing, water pump, hoses and gloves. i'm completely screwed (my only vehicle).

thank you for your reply!

There is no coolant passageways between the black and the oil pan, it has to be coming from up higher in the engine and running down to the pan. Was it leaking before you did the pump and hoses?

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yes. i drove to the airport and when i came home i had dumped damn near all my coolant. when i popped the hood it was basically all over the bottom of my engine (also was around housing, water pump, i even saw underneath the oil filter, etc).

i changed all those parts and started the vehicle up for 5 minutes while watching it poor coolant from somewhere from the bottom. i kept a very keen eye on the housing and water pump and it's damn near bone dry around both.

the only place that seems to be drenched ; is the attachment from the bottom cylinder of the belts (please forgive my lack of car language) into the engine. (NOT THE WATER PUMP OR CLUTCH FAN, THE ONE BELOW IT)

now i don't want to keep you forever or give any bad information, i keep trying to check where it's coming from and it leads me back to underneath the water pump every time (but not the pump itself). maybe there is just something that i'm missing because of my inexperience. thanks once again for your time.

Can you get under it and get some pics of where you think the leak is coming from?

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I believe what you have is "freeze plug" that's rusted through, to have as much coolant as you say coming out ,that would be my guess..

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2011 Ranger XLT 2x4,4.0 SOHC, 5 Speed Auto, 3.55 Rear. Oxford White.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Torque it down till it breaks off, then back it off 1/4 turn.

can't get a decent photo of where it's coming from but i can assure you that it's not the water pump or housing. it's ALL OVER (front and back) the bottom of my engine block and the very front of my transmission. i can't trace a leak any higher than the bottom cylinder where the belts are attached (underneath the water pump)

i have searched about the location of the freeze plugs but i just can't seem to find them, nor do i have a clue on what to do when i get there. it seems relatively cheap though.

it appears i have hit my rookie wall. i'll be calling a mobile mechanic to come take a look a.s.a.p.

thank you one and all for your swift replies!

You really need to shove you head in there or under there and get a good look to see where its leaking from, fill it up with water and put you head in there, you should be able to see it comming from somewhere.

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2002 Ranger 3.0 XLT | 5Speed | Flareside | 2wd | 3.73open |
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i will get back you gentlemen as soon as possible with an update (sun-tues). at the moment i live in a complex that will fine me if i work on my truck in the drive way (believe me, i hate my life right now).

i'm going to drive to my friends house (only .5 mile) with the vehicle and put it on some stands and take photos. he'll fortunately know everything to do and certainly help me along the way. i shall report back with the solution and hopefully some photos so everyone can have closure.

thank you very much for all of your attention and your input!

I'd shove their fine up their ass. Aint no one telling me I can't look under my truck for leaks.

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2002 Ranger 3.0 XLT | 5Speed | Flareside | 2wd | 3.73open |
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good morning guys,

well i hustled her on over to my friends house and used a compression testert. he said the leak was definitely pouring from the "timing chain cover." he told me the gasket was probably fried and to buy a new one. i figured i might as well get the timing chain as well and finish that job up so i can get another 75k miles outta her before i transform it to a 5.0 (in my dreams at the moment).

heres a photo i took for you guys : http://i.imgur.com/KO8QKoP.jpg

you can clearly see the 2 bolts next to the water pump that are just drenched in fluid... the lower one the more guilty of the 2.

anyway, thanks all so much for your attention and your input. i hope this brought some closure for us all.

update :

having trouble removing the harmonic balancer. i used the standard tool, but it seems like it would be only for one with three bolts. the 2.9 has four and i keep bending the 2 bolts that i'm able to use.

is there a specific type of harmonic balancing tool for the 2.9 that i'm not aware of?

No it is just a royal pain in the ass

I put the center bolt about 3-4 threads in and pushed against it to get the balancer to move

You run out of bolt before the balancer comes off, I fortunately had a slightly longer bolt with the same threads that allowed me to get the balancer the rest of the way off

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1988 Ranger STX, custom built flatbed, winch, 33x 10.5 BFG mudders
1974 Suburban (AKA "the sub") lockers front & rear, 383 cu in not even close to stock motor, snowplow 37 x 12.5 HUMMV tires, 4.56 gears
1952 M38 (CJ3) Jeep - my newest project - 289 ford, hardtop, got it with not one wire in it. Hope to have it driving this year