Head or engine block problem

Tiny
IDDIBIDDI
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD RANGER
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
Truck ran hot even so it was checked before leaving town. Drove fifty miles and engine overheated fast. Lost all radiator fluid. After it cooled, fluid was put back in. Cranked engine and it started to sputter, then it went smooth. Driving about a mile, it started to overheat again. Stopped at an auto shop and was told it was the engine block. How will I know if it was the head and the engine block both? Thank you, iddibiddi
Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 AT 6:31 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,858 POSTS
A cracked cylinder head is pretty rare. A cracked block is even more rare. The most common cause of this symptom is a leaking cylinder head gasket. Your mechanic can verify that with a chemical test at the radiator. That involves drawing air from the radiator, while the engine is running, through a glass cylinder with two chambers partially-filled with a special dark blue liquid. If combustion gases are present, the liquid will turn bright yellow.

You can also add a small bottle of dark purple dye to the coolant, then check with a black light after some coolant has been lost. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow back to the source. If a head gasket is leaking, you will find the dye inside the tail pipe. Auto parts stores will have the dye, and those that rent or borrow tools should have a black light.
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Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 AT 8:06 PM

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