# Radiator problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford, ranger, radiators\ **Created:** [May 23, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273 "2010-05-23T21:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crescent\_city](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@crescent\_city](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crescent_city)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/1 "2010-05-23T21:51:24Z")
when I stopped my truck after driving approx. 50 miles I detected a hissing sound coming from under the hood on the passenger side. I open the hood and it sounded like the liquid was boiling in the radiator. I also noticed the radiator coolant reservoir was overflowing with brown liquid. I checked the temperature guage but it was not indicating it was running hot. The radiator took some water but it didn’t appear totally empty. Any ideas as to what is wrong? ---
**Author:** ![geeaea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@geeaea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/geeaea)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/2 "2010-05-23T21:59:43Z")
Well, the “brown liquid” deal makes me wonder when the system was serviced last. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/3 "2010-05-23T22:02:51Z")
I also wonder about the age of the coolant in that system, but I also have to ask– Was that brown liquid oily? ---
**Author:** ![crescent\_city](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@crescent\_city](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crescent_city)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/4 "2010-05-24T01:28:41Z")
yes, it did seem oily. ---
**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/5 "2010-05-24T04:20:41Z")
Year? Mileage? Engine size? Last time you had the cooling system serviced, if ever? How much water is ‘some water?’ This sounds, initially, like a badly neglected cooling system, possibly resulting in subtle but chronic overheating, resulting in head gasket damage. Hopefully I’m wrong on all counts, but that is what it sounds like to me. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/6 "2010-05-24T16:32:37Z")
Sorry to hear that. I looks like a new head gasket, if you are lucky. ---
**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radiator-problems/49273/7 "2010-05-24T22:03:21Z")
You might change the radiator cap. If it is not holding pressure, the coolant will boil at a higher temperature. Also you might drain, flush, and refill the cooling system with new 50/50 mix of coolant. Get back to us if the problem persists.