Ford, Ranger, 2000, Oil in radiator

My 3.0 ltr v-6 Ranger has had oil in the radiator for the last 75,000 miles. Mechanics tell me to not worry about it unless it does perform correctly. What causes this to happen? Thanks for the info.

 

You probably have a blown head gasket. Is she overheating?

 

could also have a bad oil cooler, some vehicles do have a oil cooler in the rad. but most likely is as Hot has said. it will eventually require repairs I wouldn't leave it much longer as when it does finally go it will probably not give you any warning and could be much more expensive than just a head gasket.

 

a blown head gasket for 75k? maybe a cross leak in the front cover or yeah, an oil cooler in the radiator leaking...if it has one. internal radiator engine oil coolers are rare. i'm not even sure there IS a way for a blown head gasket in a 3.0 to get oil in the coolant. it's not an OHC engine, so no high pressure passages between head and block.

 

In case others ever experience this, what is that front cover and where would the cross leak be between?

 

just a guess...the timing chain cover could have pressurized oil passages in it as well as coolant passeges where the water pump mounts to it.

 

pardon me but to my knowledge there is usually no oil passages in the front cover so it would be very unusual to have oil enter from there wouldn't it? if I remember right some of the rangers had a oil cooler that mounted on the side of the block with coolant running through it. just in front of the oil filter. other than that we have just about exhausted the possibilities as far as i can see.
how much oil does it use between changes?

murphy was an optimist

 

some timing chain covers do have oil passages in them...but i like your idea better. an oil to coolant type cooler makes the most sense.

 

Has the oily substance been positively identified as OIL?

I'm thinking it could just be black coolant sludge.

Are you consuming any measurable amount of oil?

Just my .02 cents.

 

MAny ford and Chrysler products have the OIL PUMP integral to the timing cover...

If the vehicle is not using excessive oil, Check the trans Fluid. If this truck is automatic equipped, the Trans cooler is in the Radiator Tank, and can cause the same symptoms.

Technically, if it was ever overheated badly enough, it wouldnt even take 7.5 miles to pop a gasket. However , if this has been going on for 75k and hasnt gotten worse, Check with your local dealer as to Coolant requirements for the vehicle......Mixing extended life coolant with Conventional, can cause a "Syrup like" Consistency to the coolant itself. It is possible, somewhere along the line , that someone "TOPPED -OFF" the coolant with Unapproved fluid.

 

Here is additional info about the Ranger. It does not overheat. It does not use oil between oil changes. I replaced the radiator about 60,000 miles ago in an attempt to isolate the problem. The fluid is a milky texture and a cream color. I change the oil every 3000 miles. I drive carefully. I use it primarily as a means to get to work. About 30 miles round trip at 60 mph. I have changed the coolant every two years and it always comes back. Again, thanks for the info. Mel Stallings, San Antonio, Texas

 

Anything floating on top in the reservoir?

You say you use no oil between changes, but it is probably hard to tell if you have lost just grams of oil.

By changing the radiator, you were trying to see if the fault was in the transmission cooler in the radiator? I guess now you figure that likely is not it. I am presuming that even when you changed the radiator, the problem did not go away for those 60,000 miles, and then resurface?

BUT - perhaps the oil was coating all the passages and hoses?, and unless you flushed the engine really really well, what you had in there could have still been in there? Tell us all you can about any changes (or not) that occurred after you changed out the radiator.

I'd call the Ford garage if I were in your shoes, and ask them if they've had problems like yours with X amount of miles on it.

You say it does not overheat. But HAS it overheated ever since you've owned it? And did you buy it new or used, and when?

 

Thanks for the interest. Here is some additional info. I bought the truck new. My wife and I are the only drivers. The oil does float on the top in the radiator. The coolant changes were done by reputable mechanics. They stated they flushed the system. It has never overheated. I have never taken it on a trip of over 30 miles. It gets 21.4 miles to the gallon. There is a miss in one cylinder. I am considering testing the combustion pressure to determine if there is a problem with firing in a cylinder. I have had it tuned up according to specs. As you can see, I am very diligent on the care I have given the truck. I appreciate all the help I can get in isolating the problem before I seek expensive repair work. Thanks again.
Mel

 

Sounds like a head gasket.

 

And you might find that the plug with the miss has been "steam cleaned", and maybe the insulator of the plug has hairline crack. I have experience with this very thing.

Or maybe intake manifold gasket is shot/loose bolts?

Even though it has never overheated - things just happen sometimes. Maybe your engine was assembled on Friday at 4:59 pm.