1991 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L problems...
Travis Meade
w/ the 4.0L V6 and 5-spd, 4x4...all the goodies for that model, I
guess. First of all, the paint on the hood and the roof has chipped
off. It comes off in big sheets. He recently just scraped it all off
and repainted w/ spray paint. Could he have gotten the paint job fixed
for free? Was it a recall? It's strange it just peeled off the hood
and roof...
The truck has major engine problems. One particular cylinder eats spark
plugs. The compression is exactly 200psi in the other five, but is
around 160 in this one. The other plugs look great, but this one always
comes out looking kind of yellow/orange. Comparing it to the Hayne's
manual, it is apparently a high speed glaze caused by combustion
temperatures heating up rapidly during hard acceleration...I have NO
clue what that means...anyone wanna share? The engine knocks. During
wide open throttle, the engine knocks pretty badly. Aside from the
knocking, there is a coolant leak somewhere (we've never been able to
find it). There's no white smoke coming from the tailpipe, so it's not
burning coolant, and the oil always looks fine (not milky) so it's not
getting into the oil. It never leaks onto the ground. Where do we
look? Lastly, not only does the engine have a problem w/ knocking, but
the engine also has a VERY VERY noisy valve train. I have never dug
into the engine, but dad said that it has hydraulic lifters and that one
of them has siezed up. If you rev the engine up beyond say 2000rpm, you
can hear the valves tapping very badly. The sounds doesn't go
completely away when the engine warms up, but it gets much better. I've
noticed, oddly, that it seems to cycle. It will knock for about 3
seconds, then go away for about 3 seconds, then come back...in
cycles...very strange. It sounds like the valve clearance is severely
out of adjustment. That would make perfect sense...hydraulic lifter has
siezed and the clearance is WAY too large. Is there some kind of recall
for a coolant leak around the intake manifold - seems like I saw
something about that? The engine has never used any oil or blown smoke,
which says to me that the compression rings are ok (but I have no way of
knowing definitely.) Basically, I'm asking for suggestions on what to
do. This truck has potential (I'm a Toyota guy myself...sorry folks.)
It doesn't really lack power (but I have no basis for comparison b/c I
never drove it before it had all these problems)...it's really easy to
peel out in 1st, and can be done in second if I'm feeling agressive :-)
I am a freshman in college, and dad is still deciding on whether to just
run it into the ground or try and fix it up. My parents don't have
thousands of dollars to invest in a new vehicle b/c my brother will be
in college in just 2 years as well. I think dad would like to keep it
b/c he seems to like it awefully well. It doesn't really get that bad
of gas mileage for a large engine...18mpg, I think...and that's right
what Ford says it should get on the highway. If any of you have any
suggestions, I'd be most grateful. My dad rebuilt the engine a few
years ago b/c a lifter siezed then, too. I remember helping him on it.
The truck has only 120,000 miles now...we want more than that, though.
In case I've been confusing, what I'm looking for help on is 1) the
cylinder eating the plugs, 2) the noisy valve(s)...pretty sure it's just
one valve, 3) the low compression on that one cylinder, 4) the engine
knocking on acceleration, and 5) the coolant leak.
Thanks a lot,
Travis
P.S. The cylinder that eats the plugs is the same one that has low
compression, and I think maybe the one that's causing all the valve
train noise. I think it's cylinder #6...it's the frontmost cylinder on
the side closest to the driver's side of the truck.
Travis Meade
either. I'm not one of thos anal-retensives that insists on downing
domestic cars and praising the European or Japanese, or Korean or
whatever...each to his own, I say!
Carl Ernst
magically disapearing from day one. Finally had a stat problem or something
and got hot enough to crack one of the aluminum heads. Machine shop
pressure tested then and one had large crack but other was leaking too but
couldn't be seen where, I suspect it came from the factory that way.
Replaced both heads with aftermarket cast iron heads....no more leaks!
Carl
Stuart & Janet
drawn by vacuum into the intake runners of the cylinders ( usually the
middle one on either bank) They often foul one plug and pingand they seem to
use lots of oil but don't blow blue smoke. This can often be remedied by
retorqueing the lower intake manifold as they seem to be "loose" from the
factory. Worse case is to replace the intake gasket completely as it will
often be ruined from the constant leaking. Another source of pinging on
these motors is a dirty MAS so a regular cleaning with contact cleaner and
disconnection of the battery to relearn its settings is in order. Another
good thing is to clean the idle air bypass valve while your at it with carb
cleaner. As for ticking I think your right about it being a lifter. Ticking
lifters can be caused by something as simple as dirt in one. If your getting
into the manifold that would be the time to do the lifters.
As for the paint, let me guess it is a light or medium metallic shade. If
you stomped your feet enough awhile ago Ford may have repainted for you but
I think the statute of limitation may be up on that one. I've heard
different stories about what caused it , one was that the primer was shit
and the paint would not stick to it. All the car makers had the same
problem. Find a light blue 80's Camaro or a Corsica they are the worst!! HTH
StuK
--
ThunderSnake #11
Remove SPAMATRON9000 to reply by email
Carl Ernst <HUD...@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:39C17EF3...@swbell.net...