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this is a real head scratcher...any logical explanation?

1K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  matt167 
#1 ·
This isnt a hot rod but maybe yall can make some sense out of it. I have a 1991 ford ranger 2.8 v6 5 spd which ran hot one day and I noticed nasty oily substance in radiator so naturally assumed head gasket gone. Ive refilled it 4 times with water only and drained it nd every time it comes out oilly with a strange smell. But heres the kicker...theres no water in my engine oil? And I haven't lost any engine oil?? So what could possibly be getting in my radiator??
 
#3 ·
These engines are known for warp/cracking. It doesn't take much oil to really make coolant look nasty. The engine could be picking up oil in an intake runner and pumping it into the cooling system thru a crack/warp or blown/leaking head gasket. Doesn't take much..

After overheat these heads are usually junk. Getting hard to find good used ones because of that fact. I know NONE of these, and for that matter, the 3.0-4.0 are available in my local area.. Aftermkt stuff is available tho.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the fast replies!! I did plan to do a pressure test if all else failed. Several people talk about trans fluid getting into cooling system but ive traced everything down and see no way the tranny is tied into the coolant. And I do agree it doesn't take much oil to look murky but what got me is three times in a row filling with nothing but water and draining after it gets up to temprature every last drop that came out was discolered and very thick(causing me to assume alot of oil got in it) But when checking oil it hadnt lost a bit according to dip stick and not a drop of water in the oil. And the water has the strangest smell when drained and the color is very red, it actully stained the fan shroud red wher it spewed out.Thats when I started searching for other answers besides engine oil. But logically there is no other answer
 
#5 ·
How long have you owned the truck?

From the description it kind of sounds like somebody may have put block sealer in it, and now it is getting stirred up and coming out.

One of them has a red color if I recall correctly, maybe k&w?

They definitely have a distinct smell, I find the reddish color and smell a dead give away.

Edit Note: Napa, and others I'm sure, sell a tester for head gaskets. Its a plastic tube affair with a suction bulb at the top. You put some of the supplied liquid in it and if it changes from a blue color to a yellow then combustion gasses are present in the coolant. I think its like $20 or so, another testing option.
 
#7 ·
Yes!!! Heres the kind of answer I was looking for! Because theres something goin on here besides regular old blowed head gasket andccit has me puzzled but ive owned the truck 2 years put about 30000 miles on it and have never used any of that crap. So is it possible that it was put in before I got it and is just now coming back out?
 
#9 ·
I suppose its possible for block sealer to get stirred up after a couple years.

I have had engines on the stand with the freeze plugs out and ran both a pressure washer, and when I got tired of that, a garden hose in the block for a long time and never got all the block seal, um, stuff, out. The last engine I did where I had to deal with k&w I know it had been in there for several years prior.

I would still check your trans fluid just to be on the safe side. From what you describe it would be a pretty fair leak and ought to be obvious from the trans fluid.

Is the stuff that comes out of the radiator look like rusty water? That's what the block sealer looks like, and it will stain where it contacts almost anything.

Trans fluid would be a brighter red, or more likely a pinkish color, or if the trans is starting to burn up the clutches it could be a darker color, but not really the rusty look like block sealer has. Can't say I've ever seen it stain either, not like the sealer does anyway.
 
#11 ·
And yes its like rusty water but very thick. But it has the weirdest smell thats wat kept telling me there was sumthn different goin on. But I really appreciate all your replies I got a feeling you have solved this mystery. I will pressure test today and check it out a little further. Ill keep you updated!
 
#12 ·
Check for an engine oil heat exchanger in the radiator or a stand alone unit that will have coolant and engine pressure oil hoses/tubes running to and from it. These are a common way the factory uses to heat the oil in-order to reduce engine warm up time for meeting emissions standards. A leak in one of these exchangers would be engine pressure oil getting into the coolant while little, if any, coolant would get into the oil.

Bogie
 
#14 ·
'91 Ranger does not have anything like that.. It's a 2.9L, not a 2.8L and the 2.9's have head gasket/ crack issues when they are run hard or abused... World used to make new 2.9L cylinder heads but they quit about a year ago and 'investors' bought much of the remaining stock and now you can't touch them for less than $500/ head. They did sell for $150/ each
 
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