Hey guys I have a 98 Ranger, went to use my defrost this morning and smelled coolant in the cab of my truck, looked outside and had smoke coming from over near the coolant fill, any ideas?
Nov 11, 2010 8:47am
Gblock
G
G
Gblock
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 9:07 AMNov 11, 2010 9:07 AM
Thermostat?....Crack in radiator?
Nov 11, 2010 9:07am
signpainter
Junior Member
S
2posts
S
signpainter
Junior Member
2
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 10:08 AMNov 11, 2010 10:08 AM
We have that same truck (my son's) and that happened to us.....it was a soft plug that blew out. There are a few of them on the engine block and some are easier to get to than others. If your truck is anything like ours...it has rust underneath big time. We are just trying to keep things patched until he finishes college.
Nov 11, 2010 10:08am
WebFire
Go Bucks!
W
14,779posts
W
WebFire
Go Bucks!
14,779
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 10:33 AMNov 11, 2010 10:33 AM
Any coolant on the ground?
Nov 11, 2010 10:33am
June18
Senior Member
J
298posts
J
June18
Senior Member
298
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 10:56 AMNov 11, 2010 10:56 AM
manifold gasket?
Nov 11, 2010 10:56am
-Society-
Senior Member
1,348posts
-Society-
Senior Member
1,348
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 11:15 AMNov 11, 2010 11:15 AM
Mechanic shop?
Nov 11, 2010 11:15am
WebFire
Go Bucks!
W
14,779posts
W
WebFire
Go Bucks!
14,779
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 11:15 AMNov 11, 2010 11:15 AM
Temp gauge showing hot? Do you have heat?
Nov 11, 2010 11:15am
-Society-
Senior Member
1,348posts
-Society-
Senior Member
1,348
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 11:16 AMNov 11, 2010 11:16 AM
Are your brakes working? Do your windows work?
Nov 11, 2010 11:16am
Steel Valley Football
Senior Member
S
4,548posts
S
Steel Valley Football
Senior Member
4,548
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 12:08 PMNov 11, 2010 12:08 PM
Where were you Saturday at 9:00 PM ???
Nov 11, 2010 12:08pm
-Society-
Senior Member
1,348posts
-Society-
Senior Member
1,348
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 12:27 PMNov 11, 2010 12:27 PM
Steel Valley Football;553747 wrote:Where were you Saturday at 9:00 PM ???
At the bar.
Nov 11, 2010 12:27pm
Steel Valley Football
Senior Member
S
4,548posts
S
Steel Valley Football
Senior Member
4,548
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 12:36 PMNov 11, 2010 12:36 PM
-Society-;553768 wrote:At the bar.
You missed the joke, sir.
Nov 11, 2010 12:36pm
puffyisback
Senior Member
P
253posts
P
puffyisback
Senior Member
253
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 10:08 PMNov 11, 2010 10:08 PM
temp gauge still sits normal, heat will come on, no coolant on ground, reservoir still full
Nov 11, 2010 10:08pm
Belly35
Elderly Intellectual
9,716posts
Belly35
Elderly Intellectual
9,716
posts
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 10:21 PMNov 11, 2010 10:21 PM
Could have had a small over flow of coolant from the heater being turne, that backed up ... spilling on to the engine
Nov 11, 2010 10:21pm
I Wear Pants
Senior Member
I
16,223posts
I
I Wear Pants
Senior Member
16,223
posts
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 1:00 AMNov 12, 2010 1:00 AM
Get the car running to where the engine gets hot enough that the cooling system kicks on. Then look at your water pump.
I only say this suggestion because I just helped my friend identify a similar situation in his car. Of course it was a 98 Monte Carlo and not a truck but it's worth looking at.
Nov 12, 2010 1:00am
ZWICK 4 PREZ
Senior Member
7,733posts
ZWICK 4 PREZ
Senior Member
7,733
posts
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 6:23 AMNov 12, 2010 6:23 AM
head gasket
Nov 12, 2010 6:23am
Belly35
Elderly Intellectual
9,716posts
Belly35
Elderly Intellectual
9,716
posts
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 6:47 AMNov 12, 2010 6:47 AM
Look at your oil on the dip stick if it looks more milky then it is a head gasket
Nov 12, 2010 6:47am
WebFire
Go Bucks!
W
14,779posts
W
WebFire
Go Bucks!
14,779
posts
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 8:36 AMNov 12, 2010 8:36 AM
I doubt it's a head gasket. You would have overheating problems and pressure build up in the coolant system. Classic symptom is opening the radiator cap and coolant/water just flows out.
