OK. More about my 87 Ranger. It runs too f'ing hot. Hits the N in norm and drops to the top of the O. Never ever goes below half now. I have to drive it 67 miles each way for a couple more days. I know my head gasket is not blowed up yet. What will this do to my truck?
I suspect it may be a pinhole leak in the heater core, a dying fan clutch, air in the cooling system, the wrong thermostat, or maybe its perfectly normal to run that hot, but nobody seems to think so.
2007-01-09 11:47:32 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Ford
Coollant has been flushed. Its been pressure tested and "head gasket" tested and its OK.
I do smell antifreeze sometimes but never see any and its not losing any.
I think a cooler thermo may be the way to go.
I have to make the drive home tonight and back to this town Thursday. I am getting it looked at.
Been driving it like this for weeks.
2007-01-09 11:58:52 · update #1
If you are smelling coolant, it's because of the temperature of the engine is causing the coolant to give off it's odor. If you smell the antifreeze whether the engine is cold or hot, then you have a problem. And the Ford guage in the dash is a bit confusing. You have the word "NORMAL" then a line before the N and a line after the L. The space between the line before the N and the top line is the "hot" range. Ford has used this style of guage for years. While I like Fords, i HATE this style of guage. It gives a false sense of reading that can totally freak a person out. If you have not lost any water since the last time you asked the question (just after buying the truck) then you have a couple of options. Either the cooling fan is not operating properly, or you may need to run a cooler thermostat. However, running a cooler thermostat just means that the thermostat will open up sooner. If you have a problem with the cooling fan, this will not eliminate the heating problem. While the truck is not overheating, it IS running on the warm side of normal. I don't like vehicles running that warm either. To easily check if it is the fan, or possibly the fan switch, the next time you are running the truck and it reaches the top temperature, open the hood and see if the fan is running. It should be at that temperature. If it is a fan with a clutch, then you know it is the clutch that is bad. If it is an electric fan, then the fan switch is most likely to blame. Will the vehicle blow up? No. Will it cause the cylinder heads to crack? Yes. When the heads start to crack and leak water into the engine, the truck will run rough and blow white, sweet smelling smoke out the exhaust. That's the time to have a backup plan to get it somewhere or at least get home. An engine with cracked heads can be driven in an emergency one time only. This would involve some inconvienences to get it home or to a garage, but can be done. When an engine blows up, this is due to worn bearings and lack of lubrication. I have personally been stranded by a blown engine and have had to nurse an overheating engine back home. Not the same vehicle, but two different experiences in my life. So with the truck at home, before you go anywhere, start it up and let it get warm. See if the fan comes on. If not, then that is most likely your problem. If so, then put in a cooler thermostat and see how much that helps, if any. Sadly, you are experiencing the problems that are all too common with that engine. The same ones that everyone else with that engine has experienced. That is why the last time you asked the question that I suggested you run the engine while you can and dump it in favor of a 302.
2007-01-12 15:21:00 · answer #1 · answered by pygmybilly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had an 84 ranger that did the same thing. Never really did get it figured out but I went from a 192 degree thermostat to a 160 degree thermostat and it quit doing it afterwards. The Chilton manual said a 192 degree thermostat but it ran way to hot for that so I suggest you try getting a lower temp thermostat first before anything else.
2007-01-09 19:53:50 · answer #2 · answered by Bill S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the easy stuff first...is the coolant low? is the radiator fan working?
Your thermostat may be stuck closed.
When it starts to overheat, put your heater on full blast and see if the temp starts to come down (this could be uncomfortable if you live in a warm climate!).
If you live in a cold climate, do you have anti-freeze or water in the radiator? If you've run just water in the summer and fall, the water could freeze solid and you're gonna be S.O.L.
2007-01-09 19:59:28 · answer #3 · answered by Bahddahbing 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How is the antifreeze level? Or is it empty? With the heater core,, is the floor wet? windows fog on the inside?Have U looked at this or have U on idea?? Some just run hot..What does the radiator look like??When was the last time that it was flushed?
2007-01-09 19:59:51 · answer #4 · answered by wilson_cindyj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you're not losing coolant, then have your radiator and cooling system (including heater core) flushed, check for debris caked in front of the radiator, make sure your clutch fan behind the radiator is not spinning too freely when the engine is off, and change your thermostat.
2007-01-09 19:52:24 · answer #5 · answered by wwturner2000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you've got a blown thermostat and if so it's only a couple of bucks and twenty minutes of your time to replace. Try that first, then move onto more exspenive possibilities like the cooling sys. or the heater core.
2007-01-10 10:27:41 · answer #6 · answered by nintendofreak_1990 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start the Truck cold.
Open radiator cap
When it's up to operating temp, Check for bubbles in the coolant
That will tell you if you have a blown head gasket, which is highest on the suspect list.
Have you checked coolant level?
has it overheated?
Check temp with a laser temperature sensor to verify what you see on your gauges.
2007-01-09 19:54:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF there is no water leak, change the thermostat.
If the engine overheats driving at highway speeds it probably the radiator, if you have a leak and the system is full of coolant it shouldn't overheat until coolant gets low. At highway speed, the fan is worthless, you don't need it.
2007-01-10 07:05:07 · answer #8 · answered by kayef57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is going to sound crazy but take you radiator out and have it prof clean, that should help. if you can drive around town and short dist and not over heat and then get on the freeway and it will, well there you go.
Its always somthing simple that we all miss some times!!
2007-01-09 22:22:26 · answer #9 · answered by zeehcld 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is the radiator full with anti freeze/water?....Could also be the water pump going bad....could be the thermostat is not working properly....maybe the radiator needs flushing....Good luck.
2007-01-09 19:54:29 · answer #10 · answered by ticklemeblue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋