The 3.0L V6 engine in your Ford Ranger comes equipped with two cylinder head gaskets and it's not difficult to test them to determine if one or both have failed.
In this tutorial, I'll explain the four tests you need to perform on the engine to determine if a blown head gasket failure is causing an engine no-start or engine performance issue.
Contents of this tutorial at a glance:
APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:
- 3.0L Ford Ranger: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
- 3.0L Mazda B3000: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.
Symptoms Of A Blown Head Gasket
Over the years that I've worked as an automotive technician, I've found that most head gasket failures cause one of two problems:
- An engine no-start problem.
- An engine performance problem.
If the engine starts and runs, a head gasket failure will cause one or more of the following issues:
- The engine starts but overheats for no apparent reason.
- Oil mixed with coolant.
- If your Ford starts and runs, you have white smoke that smells like burning anti-freeze coming out of the tail-pipe.
- Engine cranks, but does not start.
- No compression on two side by side cylinders.
TEST 1: Engine Oil Mixed With Coolant
The most common consequence of a head gasket failure is engine coolant leaking into the crankcase.
When this happens, the engine oil mixes with the coolant and the resulting mixture looks like coffee with too much creamer.
Testing this type of head gasket failure is super easy, and this is the first test we'll start with.
These are the test steps:
- 1
Open the hood.
- 2
Pull out the engine oil dipstick.
- 3
Check the color of the oil sticking to the dipstick.
- 4
You'll see one of two things:
1.) The color of the oil will be a milky white color (like coffee with too much creamer).
2.) The color of the oil will be its normal color.
Let's take a look at your test result:
CASE 1: The engine oil is milky-white in color (like coffee with too much creamer). This is bad news and confirms that you have a blown head gasket on your 3.0L Ford Ranger (Mazda B3000).
CASE 2: The engine oil is its normal color. This doesn't confirm anything just yet. You'll need to go to the next test to make sure. Go to: TEST 2: Coolant Shooting Out Of Radiator.
