It certainly CAN leak if the GASKET sealing it to the engine block is bad or the pump bearing and SEAL have failed. You would hear a failed bearing (squeal or LOUD chirp) and a coolant leak when motor is cold isn't too hard to spot either. Coolant can SEEP out through the breached gasket while vehicle is still. Thermostat housing leaks are pretty common also due to gasket failure..
On a 2000 Ford Ranger : With the engine cold the radiator should be filled to the seat for the radiator cap and the engine coolant reservoir should be filled to the cold mark
On your 1997 Ford Ranger : There is a cold fill mark on the engine coolant reservoir With your engine cold you should have a 50 / 50 mix of preferably distilled water and GREEN color antifreeze ( meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A ) in your engine cooling system up to the cold fill mark of the reservoir ( that's what it had in it when it came from the factory )
First check for mechanical interference from the clutch mechanism to throttle linkage.
The coolant level is checked at the coolant tank in the passenger front corner of the engine compartment . The coolant level should be up to the cold mark when the engine is cold . The radiator should be full so its covering the top plate .
The reservoir has two level lines - one for "cold engine" and the other for "hot engine". If the engine is hot, and the coolant level is low, fill the reservoir to the "hot engine" level. When the engine is cold and the level is low, I usually" top off" the radiator and fill the reservoir to the "cold engine" level.
The most common reason an engine would run cold or take a long time to reach normal operating temperature is a thermostat stuck in the OPEN position or no thermostat at all.
I would suspect a worn drive belt. Inspect all belts.
Don't know how cold your cold is but, it could be water in the fuel system (ice).
It should not
How many cold cranking amp do a 2001 ford ranger needs?
Most definitely.
Could be low fluids or a electronic component in engine...