# Ford Ranger Cooling

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976>\
**Category:** Power/Fuel\
**Tags:** ford, ranger, gasoline\
**Created:** [March 19, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976 "2008-03-19T14:08:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tony\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@Tony\_L](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tony_L)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976/1 "2008-03-19T14:08:02Z")

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A 1995 Ford Ranger with a 4 Liter engine and 170K miles has a temperature problem. The temperature gauge cycles to high and back down within 10 to 15 seconds at highway speeds. It happens more often while climbing a grade. Down shifting will bring the temp gauge quickly down within a few seconds. The radiator, water pump and thermostat were replaced at about 150K miles. Coolant level is OK.  
  
 Can lower octane fuel be a factor?

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**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976/2 "2008-03-19T14:45:05Z")

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temp cycles up and down to what? over heating, or just fluctuating?

it may be something as simple as a temp sender unit. but you should figure out if it is indeed overheating. you have not been clear on that.

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976/3 "2008-03-19T21:51:11Z")

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You might have air in the system. Try running your engine for a little bit with the radiator cap off (engine cold, of course). Also try changing your radiator cap if that hasn’t been done lately.

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**Author:** ![winarth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@winarth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/winarth)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976/4 "2008-03-20T02:57:46Z")

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Agreed. I have used the absence of temperature cycling to detemine when all the air was out of a system after a coolant flush. If this started recently there may be a head gasket leak or maybe the antifreeze water mixture is wrong and this is simple boiling.

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**Author:** ![Tony\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@Tony\_L](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tony_L)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976/5 "2008-03-20T16:44:28Z")

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I will check on if it is actually overheating.  
Thanks:  
Tony

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**Author:** ![Tony\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@Tony\_L](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tony_L)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-ranger-cooling/11976/6 "2008-03-20T16:47:13Z")

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The gage normally read about 10 to 20% to overheat when running OK. The fast cycle up goes anywhere from 60% to 90% to the top of the gage.