Major coolant loss

2001 FORD RANGER

200,500 MILES • 3.0L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC

RDANNENFELSER

MEMBER
43 POSTS
FOLLOW

Recently the truck listed above I own has developed a major coolant leak. It will typically lose a full reservoir worth of coolant in only about 2 days or so time. The engine, however, has not overheated at least as of yet.

I ran a 1 ounce bottle of coolant leak UV dye through the system and found the leak to be in the area of the water pump/timing chain cover. Attached is a photo.

Based only upon what is visible in the photo and any past experience, I wanted to ask which gasket likely has failed allowing the loss of coolant? Water pump, timing chain cover, or head gasket?

Also, with a coolant leak this severe, would a stop leak product such as K-Seal or Blue Devil be of any use?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

Image (Click to enlarge)

Nov 10, 2019 at 6:52 PM

KASEKENNY

CERTIFIED EXPERT
18,907 POSTS

To start with the easier question first, no the leak stop will probably not work and I would not waste my money.

I would think that this is coming from the head gasket but the best way to find it is clean all of that dye off and start fresh with pressure testing it. Put about 15-20 PSI in the cooling system and this will push it out from the leak (assuming the leak is not so large that you can't build pressure).

If the leak is large then you may need to use a compressed air attachment so you can build the pressure faster than a hand pump can.

I included the process on the head gasket because that is where I would put my money.

Images (Click to enlarge)

Nov 10, 2019 at 7:23 PM