Leaking coolant from unknown fitting/grommet

[NavyVet88]

2002 Ford Ranger 3.0L 113k

On my way to Lowe’s this morning to buy a new fridge I noticed what looked like smoke coming from the passenger side of the truck from under the hood. I pulled over and instantly smelled the sweet aroma of coolant and noticed it was coming out of what looks like a grommet in the firewall….yeah it’s weird to me, but I took a picture to see if y’all could identify what it is. About three inches up and to the right of that center black looking grommet is the trans dip stick for location. I couldn’t find or see anything hose like that could’ve popped off.

 

[Boomer]

Is that a heater hose??

 

[GSCJR]

Evaporator drain tube?

 

[NavyVet88]

I have no idea. I can’t find anything on the engine side of that piece that looks like it connected or went to anything.

 

[Dave9]

If you're certain it is coolant, then I'd guess your heater core is leaking and it's coming out the evap drain hole... fortunately, instead of down into the passenger floorboard... or there too!

Edit: Previously I wrote that you could just not turn the heat on for the time being and it would be a finite amount that leaks out, but it may still backfeed, not sure.

 

[NavyVet88]

If you're certain it is coolant, then I'd guess your heater core is leaking and it's coming out the evap drain hole... fortunately, instead of down into the passenger floorboard... or there too!

However if you don't turn the heater on, seems like there should be a valve stopping coolant flow to the core, so the amount that can leak out is a finite amount and if I'm right, buying you some time to fix it before it gets cold outside again, unless of course, the heater valve is leaking too.

It’s definitely coolant because I had almost none left in the radiator or the holding tank and both were full two days before.

 

[Chris142]

That's the evaporator drain tube. It's to drain condensation from the ac evaporator. If it's coolant then you have a leaking heater core as they share the same area . Dash has to come out to fix it

 

[atikovi]

Just bypass the core with a metal fitting. How often do you need heat in Alabama.

 

[NavyVet88]

does the dash still need to come out to bypass the core?

 

[mk378]

No, that's done entirely under the hood by disconnecting both sides of the core then connecting the two hoses together so coolant flows in a loop. It's a very quick and cheap solution but of course the heater will not work.

 

[michaelluscher]

No, that's done entirely under the hood by disconnecting both sides of the core then connecting the two hoses together so coolant flows in a loop. It's a very quick and cheap solution but of course the heater will not work.

OP is in Alabama, so he can get by without heat for a few months (defogging notwithstanding)
When the time comes, seek out a Motorcraft part if at all possible
Getting the dash out doesn't look too bad of a job (easier than the '94 Escort I did once )
Here's a very simplistic how to video, there's many write ups on Ranger forums and YouTube

 

[NavyVet88]

I appreciate it guys. I went to AutoZone and bought a bypass kit for the heater core and that seems to have done the job for now at least until it gets below freezing like it does in Antarctica here in Alabama lol.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I'd bet it's a heater core. Turn on your heat and see if you smell coolant.

Just my $0.02

 

[mattd]

That’s definitely the evaporator drain tube. You have a leaking heater core.