Can we stop talking about it already.... coolant....

[Gillah11]

Ok. I've read and re-read all of the threads and information I can find on coolant leaks, and believe me, I have completely tired of it all.

The fact of the matter is, I'm now completely confused.

My 1990 RRC has been running well since getting back on the road from a swivel ball and seal replacement. Today, about 85 degrees and humid I was driving home from work thinking to myself...

"I'm so glad the Rangie is running so well... so smooth and quiet" You know the feeling.... all is right with your world and you have the windows down and the wind blowing through your hair...

I pull up in the driveway, turn her off, and she PUKES her coolant guts all over.....!!! The fluid is running from the back of the engine by the firewall from what I can tell, at least from my vantage point laying in the driveway. Looking up from the passenger side, I could see it running off the front differential. Definitely not the front of the engine near the radiator at all.

I replaced the water pump and fan clutch along with all of the belts in February.

It didn't completely puke all of the coolant, maybe about 1/2 gallon or just a bit more...

I had to get her out of the way at that point as there are other vehicles I need to allow passage in and out of the driveway. So I started her up and backed out of the driveway, turned her around and parked backwards next to the driveway like I always do. Turned her off.... nothing, no drips, no pukes, nothing at all.... completely dry driveway.

There has been no indication of overheating from the temp guage. It runs at it's normal all of the time. I haven't even noticed an increase in temp at stop lights, let alone any OVERheating.

So... any bright ideas? It seems the more I read, the more all of the symptoms and diagnosis and solutions blend together, and quite frankly I'm not so sure about some of the other information out there on the net.

I'd really appreciate any insight you guys might have. It seems as though most of you have been through it all and know what to look at first. There's the head gasket possibility I know, but there are also "freeze plugs" or core plugs located in that direction and I'm wondering if that's the problem.

Any ideas you all may have would be great.

Thanks in advance!

[OkieRover]

Sounds like if its from the back of the engine its the heater hoses going into the firewall and the heater core.
I don't want to bring you down. But as my head gaskets got worse it started popping hoses. As I replaced them the pressure just moved to the next weakest part. And finally to my heater core which burst in 7:30am traffic filling the cab with steam obstructing my view.

I would find out if the head gaskets are failing. You will need to remove those hoses from the back of the engine and replace them. They are a bitch to get to but not impossible.

If you have read any of the post in the RRC forum you'll see this head gasket problem is the bane of every 3.9 and 4.2. If you fix that early you may avoid some of the other headaches.

Don't read this wrong I'm not saying your head gasket is dying. What I am saying is IT WILL DIE. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[daway]

if u read everything and still can not figure it out then it might b time to have a indy tech check it out. They can do what they do best, give u a list of what is wrong, the price and then u can do it your self or have them do it! good luck i have been there many times

[Gillah11]

Thanks for the reply. Here's some further information I've discovered:

The coolant overflow tank is at level...

The leak actually appears to be coming from up front in the water pump area but I have not been able to discern exactly where. I can't tell if it's the pump or hoses...

But none of the hoses is "gushing" fluid, so if a hose I'm assuming a fairly small tear or hole.

Good clean coolant is puddling up right behind the water pump on the top end, and also puddling lower down by the PS pump. It appeared to be running from the back of the engine I think because of the incline (nose up) I was parked at. I'm almost sure it was running from the top of the water pump area backward along the top of the engine block to the back where I saw it dripping the first time.

The temp guage stays very nicely at just below 1/2 on the guage.

I just replaced the water pump, fan clutch and hoses in February.

Any further ideas on what to look at first, or what anyone's thoughts are?

[daway]

Originally Posted by Gillah11

Thanks for the reply. Here's some further information I've discovered:

The coolant overflow tank is at level...

The leak actually appears to be coming from up front in the water pump area but I have not been able to discern exactly where. I can't tell if it's the pump or hoses...

But none of the hoses is "gushing" fluid, so if a hose I'm assuming a fairly small tear or hole.

Good clean coolant is puddling up right behind the water pump on the top end, and also puddling lower down by the PS pump. It appeared to be running from the back of the engine I think because of the incline (nose up) I was parked at. I'm almost sure it was running from the top of the water pump area backward along the top of the engine block to the back where I saw it dripping the first time.

The temp guage stays very nicely at just below 1/2 on the guage.

I just replaced the water pump, fan clutch and hoses in February.

Any further ideas on what to look at first, or what anyone's thoughts are?

could it b that your rad. coils r clogged? that was one of my problems that i had last summer. when they r clogged they can build up pressure. they use to b copper then LR switched to alum. they can get clogged easy if not cleaned/flushed every 2 or so yrs.

[OkieRover]

I'll bet my left nut...one of the heater supply hoses is busted.
http://www.okierover.com/heatersupplyhoses.htm

[Gillah11]

I was beginning to suspect this myself after further investigation, but couldn't actually "see" the bust in either of the hoses so I wasn't sure.....

...no, it could never be that easy could it?

Thanks so much for the info and your great website. I've referred to it often and not only appreciate the instructions but also the humor.

I'm on my way to order the hoses...!