Head gasket

[Spr1985]

22 hours ago, wigeon jim said:

My ford ranger has a suspected head gasket leak, coolant keeps needing topped up, its an expensive repair, has anyone tried the radweld type head gasket sealant that you add to coolant and did it work? Just trying to find a cheaper fix,   Jim.

I believe this is one of the known common problems with the rangers, have you checked https://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/home.do;jsessionid=wFVMmmF3dBZ-O52vRqnWzFSYDfKPuL--AE70bXIN.ito034589 

for any outstanding recal notices? If not it may be worth checking 

[wigeon jim]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Do you mean hydraulicing?

Yes!

[Saltings]

13 hours ago, Rewulf said:

 You owe me a new keyboard !

You might have been accurate if we were talking about a MK 1 or 2 escort OHV engine, but Im going to cut you some slack and bet you havent worked on cars for a while.

The more recent Rangers have cam chains, that need removing before the head comes off, injector pump ect timing up ,then the masses of ancillaries, wiring on modern engines...Its not a job for the casual mechanic.
Parts, off the top of my head would be around £350 alone, and around 10 hours labour for someone that knows what theyre doing, you could knock a bit off if its the older belted engine, but still requires special tooling and expertise.
Your £50 in parts wouldnt change the oil and filter, which it definitely needs.

I would expect a bill of £1000-1500 depending on labour rates and area.

Additives like Celit work temporarily if the leak isnt bad, but often block up other areas of the water system, causing further problems.
I wouldnt use it if you are considering doing it properly and replacing the gasket later, new rads and pipes are expensive.

up to 06  as said      after     half a day strip down  etc   modern day eco friendly  worth less than 3k scrap    im lucky i do my own work i understand engines and gearboxes  despite   I'm a trained cabinetmaker   i can get the old mechanical stuff running even cartridge start    HOWEVER modern day computer electronic problems  knackered  

mechanical i can fix and make it work  and still know how to set points lol 

[Saltings]

6 hours ago, wigeon jim said:

Hi all, garage check today they bypassed some type of water cooled valve on Side of the block and left it all day but on starting it again a 5.00 pm , it was just the same, hydrologicing they called it, even only running a few seconds there's a little pressure in the radiator, not looking good, it's a December 2009 ford ranger with 108.000 miles so don't know if it worth the repairs or just sell it as is, 

hi jim if the chassis and body is good and your happy    fix it      or your buying someone else's problem  only to spend much more money to get it right   maybe even a head gasket temporary get you home fix  junk      if happy with truck fix it      new does not mean better  it costs more on electronics 

[Scully]

12 hours ago, wigeon jim said:

Hi all, garage check today they bypassed some type of water cooled valve on Side of the block and left it all day but on starting it again a 5.00 pm , it was just the same, hydrologicing they called it, even only running a few seconds there's a little pressure in the radiator, not looking good, it's a December 2009 ford ranger with 108.000 miles so don't know if it worth the repairs or just sell it as is, 

Cylinder head skim can cost at least 1800 quid, so if that’s what is called for, you may have to weigh up that cost against the value of your vehicle and take it from there. 

[snow white]

Like I said it’s cracked between the valves it can’t pressurise there as it will blow down exhaust even when the valves on that cylinder are shut

[ditchman]

do one of 2 things

1. scrap the vehicle
2. buy a engine from a scrap yard...

[Walker570]

Should have purchased a pre 1990 Land Rover for a start.   I thought these ansy fancy trucks never wnet wrong.

[wigeon jim]

Thanks all, the annoying thing is it runs so sweet, never needed anything much in the last 5 years I have had it,  now considering a small van and a quad bike for off road,

[Rewulf]

16 minutes ago, wigeon jim said:

Thanks all, the annoying thing is it runs so sweet, never needed anything much in the last 5 years I have had it,  now considering a small van and a quad bike for off road,

Get some quotes on doing the head, but theres no real way of knowing the heads cracked until its off and pressure tested.

A better option could be a 2nd hand engine with warranty.

[wigeon jim]

 Thinking of getting a hilux next, around 2011-2014 , anything  to look out for on these trucks?

[Saltings]

in case you change your mind and fix   RECONDITIONED CYLINDER HEAD FORD RANGER MAZDA BT-50 2.5 12V WL 1998-2006 | eBay      For Ford Ranger PJ PK Mazda BT50 Complete Cylinder Head WEC WLC WEAT WE | eBay     HEAD GASKET BOLTS FORD RANGER EVEREST MAZDA BT50 3.0 CDVi TDCi 2006 on WEC YN | eBay   or buy gaskets and bolts  have your head crack tested then skinned  any more than £80.00 you are being ripped off  usually £45 for a skim   they are not hard to work on   a strip down and rebuild by home time   so app a days labour 

or COMPLETE CYLINDER HEAD + GASKET SET FORD RANGER MAZDA BT50 WLC 2.5 WEC 3.0 TDCi | eBay

Edited May 6, 2021 by Saltings

[Rewulf]

10 hours ago, Saltings said:

RECONDITIONED CYLINDER HEAD FORD RANGER MAZDA BT-50 2.5 12V WL 1998-2006 | eBay 

On 29/04/2021 at 19:13, wigeon jim said:

it's a December 2009 ford ranger

Cant be that different surely 😏

"The original 2.5-litre Duratorq turbo diesel engine is a tough nut but like the majority of pick-up engines of the day, it's constantly in your ear reminding you of the fact. This durable unit grumbled on until 2006 looking more and more of an anachronism as the years passed. In the first rear-wheel-drive single cab models, it delivered 77bhp and that was later upped to 83bhp, still some way from what's required to shift a Ford Ranger with any great purpose. In the 4x4 models, there was 107bhp to play with at a time when Mitsubishi's L200 could call upon 138bhp in its range-topping versions.

In the post-2006 Rangers, power is supplied by a 2.5-litre common-rail injection engine that is streets ahead the direct injection unit that went before. It's up on power for a start, producing 142bhp and doing so at a usefully low 2,000rpm. Many operators were more enamoured with the 22% improvement in fuel economy, however. Torque of 330Nm at 1,800rpm put the Ranger's powerplant amongst the best in the class and helps it turn in a muscular performance for towing duties and offroad work. The engine features a Dual Mass Flywheel which sharpens responses while also reducing vibration and a variable geometry turbocharger is employed to cut turbo lag and extend the torque band."

 

Theres engines on ebay in the region of £1000-1500 warranted, fittings probably another £400.

[Saltings]

i gave you options      the 12valve is not for you         the twin cam bt50  yes  as same engine      or as mentioned a reconditioned  engine

Edited May 7, 2021 by Saltings

[Cyrus1988]

On 30/04/2021 at 18:02, wigeon jim said:

 Thinking of getting a hilux next, around 2011-2014 , anything  to look out for on these trucks?

Rusting chassis, especially at the back end and around the fuel tank. Injectors as well I think, maybe covered by a recall though. 

[Vince Green]

Is there any realistic chance it could have frozen up over the winter? I'm always suspicious of "head gasket" problems in the spring. 

[wigeon jim]

Hi guys, put a radweld type stuff in a week past Friday and it's not lost a drop of water since, I know it's temporary but long may it last, was speaking to someone who has an Audi with a suspected head gaskit leak who put this stuff and that was three years ago,   Jim.

Edited May 10, 2021 by wigeon jim

[London Best]

5 minutes ago, wigeon jim said:

Hi guys, put a radweld type stuff in a week past Friday and it's not lost a drop of water since, I know it's temporary but long may it last, was speaking to someone who has an Audi with a suspected head gaskit leak who put this stuff and that was three years ago,   Jim.

You may find you have ruined the cab heater by blocking up the heater radiator matrix.

Don’t ask me how I know!

[wigeon jim]

9 minutes ago, London Best said:

You may find you have ruined the cab heater by blocking up the heater radiator matrix.

Don’t ask me how I know!

Still putting a good heat out, good job as it was needed here in Scotland recently,😳

[hodge911]

If your going down the chemical fix route STEELSEAL is about the best I've heard of and used .not in my vehicles I always repair properly (I'm a mechanic) but a mate had a old corsa that he knew was not going to pass next mot and had 6 months tax & test left to run so we put 2 bottles of steelseal in following the instructions and it was still running ok when he scrapped it when the test ran out

[wigeon jim]

Hi all, still using my pickup which hasn't needed much water added and has been driven locally ok, but today it started to over heat again and had to stop every few miles to let it cool down so I could get home, once home and cooled down checked the water and it was full , is this still a sign of a head gasket gone, I am replacing the vehicle but not found the right one yet, any help much appreciated,  Jim.

[London Best]

It might be a sign that the instant weld you put in has blocked the radiator.

[wigeon jim]

Does that mean my head gaskit is ok then🤣

[db135]

If there’s no external coolant leaks I’ve seen fuw egr coolers crack internally and look like a head gasket faults on rangers. Easy to start with as you can disconnect the two coolant pipes that go to it and join them together as a temporary thing to see if that fault is gone.

Edited May 29, 2021 by db135

[wigeon jim]

44 minutes ago, db135 said:

If there’s no external coolant leaks I’ve seen fuw egr coolers crack internally and look like a head gasket faults on rangers. Easy to start with as you can disconnect the two coolant pipes that go to it and join them together as a temporary thing to see if that fault is gone.

The garage done exactly that but said it didn't help, what I can't get my head around is why there's no problem for days then it will overheat again with no water loss,