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lottabirdies
New User
Aug 15, 2007, 12:59 PM
Post #1 of 2
(4957 views)
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'97 Ranger Overheating?
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I have '97 Ford Ranger and the temperature guage keeps shooting up every once in a while. I just had the radiator flushed and fresh coolant put in, and I initially thought the thermostat might be faulty, but now I am not so sure. I smelled some burning today and I am pretty concerned. In addition to the overheating anytime I try to accelerate at a descent rate in any gear the truck will start bucking, so it seems like something is misfiring or some kind of timing is off. I don't know much about engines so my description may be inadequate, but if anyone has any suggestions I am desperate for a diagnosis.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 17, 2007, 4:10 AM
Post #2 of 2
(4952 views)
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Re: '97 Ranger Overheating?
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Hi,
Did this just happen after you had the cooling system flushed or was that to fix this problem? The coolant level must be maintained at full in the radiator not just the recovery tank. The smells and poor running are probably because it's running hot but not making it run hot.
Thermostats can be the problem but more often not. In that this doesn't happen all the time it should be replaced and probably should have been when it was flushed. Even if all this is new it needs to be fully checked out.
You said you weren't too savy about this and that's fine but know this is potentially very damaging to the engine and should be taken care of right away. If you must add coolant yourself be sure to follow instructions on the anti-freeze you buy and best to keep the mixture at 50% water and 50% anti-freeze which make the mixture protected to -34 degrees Fahrenheit. Some come pre mixed which takes the guess work out of that and is a little more expensive that way but you don't want too much anti-freeze concentration nor too little.
I'm not very brand loyal about products but Prestone is selling anti-freeze that is clear and claims to be compatible will all coolants which are mostly ethylene/glycol based but there are different colors.
Note: There are less toxic products that are fine but stick with one or the other. Ethylene/glycol has been a standard for over 60 years and works well.
Don't wait on this,
T
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