# 1997 Ford Ranger - Head Gasket Questions

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [September 4, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073 "2019-09-04T02:57:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Thomas23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@Thomas23](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Thomas23)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073/1 "2019-09-04T02:57:26Z")

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My mechanic informed me that my Ranger’s head gasket needs to be replaced. How long can I go without doing the replacement? How much should I expect to pay for the job?

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**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073/2 "2019-09-04T03:13:39Z")

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> [@Thomas23](#):
>
> How long can I go without doing the replacement?

Depends on how much more damage you want to do.

Right now if you’re lucky, you just need a head gasket.

If you’ve overheated it even once, you risk cracking the head, and will need new heads.

Also if you have the 3.0 V-6, make sure he gets the head gaskets for a Ranger or Aerostar, and not the ones for a front wheel drive like the Taurus or Windstar .

It has to do with the way the coolant flows through the engine

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**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073/3 "2019-09-04T11:24:00Z")

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As far as cost, one source for ballpark estimate is [repairpal.com](http://repairpal.com)  
costs vary by location.

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073/4 "2019-09-04T12:23:57Z")

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> [@Thomas23](#):
>
> How much should I expect to pay for the job?

You did not think to ask the mechanic for a price ? That seems like the best place for a price since where you are and what kind of facility you might use are unknown.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-ranger-head-gasket-questions/148073/5 "2019-09-05T20:09:13Z")

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What’s the reason for the head gasket failure? Gasket has a breach into the combustion chamber or is it simply an external oil or coolant leak?

The former is serious; the latter can go almost forever as is.