Howdy, I just found this group. I live in Orange County, (Southern) Calif. I have a 90 Ranger XLT Supercab, Sandlewood color, 2.9L Automatic, 2- wheel drive, power windows, locks, cruise, 60/40 front seat, 133k miles, 2nd tranny (original went out at about 50k miles). My wife drives the truck mostly everyday to work and home. We've driven it everywhere from through the mountains, deserts (off and on road) and along the coast. I have hauled motorclyes, quads, camping gear, furniture and such, in the bed, and towed a broke-down 2-ton Club Wagon Van once. Everything is stock in the engine, except for the alternator. I'm on my 3rd or so alternator. I bought the vehicle new, in Dec 1989. The Ranger has been quite faithful over the years. Overall, I've been happy with the truck, except for the bothersome minor oil leak from the valve covers, which I've replaced the gasket several times over the years, and the lost of coolant. I can't figure where the coolant is going, for I don't find it on the ground or in the oil. I'll just refill the bucket every so often. Anyways, my question is about the heater hoses. I had to do a belts & hoses replacement/coolant flush...and...stupid me...I forgot which heater hose goes where. Looking toward the firewall from the front of the engine, where does the left hose and the right hose go to? I've done hose replacement many times over the years on this truck, but this time, I had a brain fart. Anyways, I'd appreciate any help with this problem and/or any comments. I look forward to being a member of this group and hope I can make future contributions.

Hey Sam; I have an 1988 Ranger with a 2.9 and it has everything on it yours does plus it is a 4x4. So I hope this helps you out my left heater hose goes to the thermostat housing and the right one goes to the water pump. As far as the coolant goes just go buy the radiator and not the reservor. just make sure it is the right level in the radiator. when it is cold open the radiator cap and see how the fluid level is and keep an eye on it a few times. If it stays the same and then temp seems to be normal then it will be OK. I never go by the overflow bottle and I never have any problems and this is my second 1988 Ranger my first one had 200,000 mi on it and I never had a problem with it and this one I have now has 155,000 on it and I haven't had any problems with it either. I hope the stuff I told you helped ya a little and ya I have a brain fart everynow and then myself so don't feel alone HaHa. Good luck, .......Mark

Hey Mark, Thanks for the help. I'll take care of the hoses in a little bit today. As for the radiator, there is no leaks from it, nor from the hoses, pump or any of the like. When I check the level inside of the radiator every so often, when I see the resevoir is empty, and the level inside the radiator is low too. I just assume the fluid is evaporating, but I never had a vehicle that looses coolant so often, without seeing obvious leaks. How often you may ask; I don't know exactly, I didn't put any effort into keeping exact track. I noticed on another web site of rangers, that the valve cover oil leak is a common problem for these trucks. I remember reading there is a "special" valve cover gasket that will take care of the problem, Fel-pro. I'll check to see where I can buy this brand. Sam

Hey Sam, I forgot to tell you but yes I've heard the 2.9 have trouble with the valve cover gaskest leaking allthough I haven't had a problem untill a month ago and I just replaced the gaskets with a cheap cork type gaskets and they seem to work great they are called "Pro-Torque" by Rol it says no retorque on the package too and they were only $9.00 for the set. They seem to work great since it took me three trys to get the right side on right. It kept moving on me so I got mad and used some Permatex(non hardening) gasket seallant on the head side of the gasket to hold it in place for me. Your slight water leak! Well if it isn't much it could be evaporation. Hows you heater core? I blew a heater core in my first 1988 when it had about 120,000 thousand miles on it because I blew a heater hose and it got a little hot so I think that made the heater core leak. Anyway it could be seaping there and if it is it is a cheap fix. Let me know how it goes. Mark

I retorqued the valve cover bolts every now and then too. One of theses days (when I have a spare day), I'll replace to a better gasket, it's doing better now since the last replacement. I know what you mean, it's a real pain in the arse to replace the gaskets on this truck. I always come away with injuries to my hands, arms and psyche. Where's the heater core? I don't think I have a leak there. Wouldn't I smell the fluid if I do? BTW, I did have the heater hoses reversed. I switch them around this morning. What made me think they were backwards, was I noticed it was running hotter than usual. Usually the temp gauge needle registers a few hairs above C, and after the hose replacement the other weekend, I notice the needle reads almost halfway. I wanted to be sure that it was reversing the heater hoses and not something else causing it to show hotter than usual. Also, when I was checking the hoses this morning, I noticed I forgot to tighten the hose clamp at the thermo. Took care of that too. Thanks alot for the help! Sam

Hey Sam, Everything sounds cool then just keep an eye on your temp guage as mine reads in the middle all the time. As far as the heater core goes you would notice your windows being a little extra steamy on the inside when you ran the heater or the carpet would be damp under the heater outlet for the floor. I really don't think it maters one way or the other about the heater hoses being reversed either since all it does is re circulate through the core. If the clamp was loose it might have been seeping out of it. Oh by the way The coolant resorvor on those are basically an overflow recoverey. I never put water in that and mine is empty all the time so as long as the radiator is at its normal fluid level I wouldn't worry about the recovery bottle.