I purchased a 95 12v 5 speed with 116,000 on it off ebay. I ran a car fax and talked to the seller several times. Truck is a one owner and mileage appears accurate. Drove the truck from Littlerock AR. to Tunica MS where I donated some money to the casinos then drove it home today. Drove the truck about 500 miles and averaged about 20.6 mpg at 75 mph. Now for the bad part, the rear diff where the drive shaft enters is leaking no big deal will fix tomorrow just made sure the rear diff stayed full on the way home. Does anyone know what size the nut is after you drop the drive shaft? Here is my biggest concern. Truck has a small coolant leak. Looking at the front of the engine around the thermostat the heater hoses run off to the firewall. The small hose attaching the heater hose to the thermostat was leaking. I tightened it this fixed that leak now it is lower. Same side of the engine there is a freeze plug it appears that I am loosing coolant just above this. Does the thermostat have a gasket on the head or is the head leaking now? The oil is perfect and the truck runs fine any suggestions would help. One other thing the temp gauge in the truck bounces from 190 which is the center mark on my truck back to around what I would guess is about 150-160. I just assumed the thermostat to be bad but maybe it has something to do with this. Any help would be greatly appreciated before I tear into this. Coolant loss is very minimal
Thanks Tom

 

I can't speak to all of your concerns, there are plenty of experienced folks here that will, but the temp. fluctuation is totally normal.

 

As said don't worry about the temp gauge fluctuation.
If your diff is filled all the way up to the bottom of the fill hole it might be the cause of your leak. The correct owner's manual recommended level is 1/2" below the bottom of the hole.
More isn't better.
Sounds like you need to clean it up and find exactly where the coolant is leaking from.

 

Clean it up and use baby powder to find the source of small leaks. It leaves an immediate tell tale in the powder.

 

Went by the dealer today to get a throttle linkage. This little plastic piece fits over a small metal ball came off. Found out it was a recall that had been done and they are going to do it again for me on Fri for free . A couple of techs came out to look at the truck so I was able to ask some questions. Showed them the leak and they think it is the head. They said just drive it, that where it was leaking was no big deal. The other thing is it did not leak today. Drove about 70 miles of mixed and not so much as a wet spot? Any way I guess I will take their advice and roll with it till something happens.