Coolant Leak | Not sure which hoses are in play as suspects

zach18 · #1 02-18-2022, 06:23 PM

I recently got my grandad's old Ranger, and after refilling the coolant many times, it is time for me to try and fix it. I have traced it to a specific area, but could see the actual leak. After taking off the top coolant tube, i noticed what looks like a junction with some sort of sensor on it. I am not super confident in understanding the copious online diagrams.

As i type this, i also realize that my engine temp gage has never actually told me i was cooking my engine, the few times i noticed the smoke coming out did.

I am hoping i circled a coolant line with the sensor that should tell me if my engine is hot. Hoping someone can help me confirm this

(link to photo while i try and get it to show up in this post)

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after typing up that post, i realized i was on to something. might be the Heater Water Control Valve

https://www.autozone.com/cooling-hea...809/223861_0_0

12 Deg North Industries · #2 02-21-2022, 12:42 AM

It's a 2004, the coolant hoses may likely need to all be replaced as a part of preventative maintenance aspects. There relatively inexpensive items in comparison and if they're the originals and you got near 20 years out of them, you should get another 18-20 years.

On the economical side of things, some good deals here, and someone likely has a discount code you can use. There's better options too.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...tor+hose,10068

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...pass+hose,2155

but likely by the looks of your hoses in your picture, you might just have a pinhole in that line of hose or the plastic device you found from Four Seasons pissing on the interior of the engine bay and on the hot exhaust.

Likely that you weren't too close to pegging the gauge. Generally they're static gauges. They sit in the middle until there is really a problem, you may found the leak early pissing on the hot exhaust.

But just in case...

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...+/+sensor,4748

zach18 · #3 02-24-2022, 04:24 PM

thanks for the reply. I replaced the heat valve i mentioned above and it didn't fix anything, hopefully my heater works better now

I looked at it a little longer, and with the pressure tester tool it feels like a waterfall. After some more research and a better idea of where the leak could be coming from i decided to replace the Thermostat housing with an aluminum replacement part. Going to put on some new hoses as well.

I will let you know how it goes.