Hey Everybody

[jwinker]

Hey team,

I'm John. I have a 2000 Ford Ranger 4.0L 4x4 with 175k on the clock and it's struggling. It's my winter truck so I have decided it's time for an engine overhaul this summer. Lots of questions coming...

I'm not a professional, nor am I a newbie. My first car was (is) a 1965 Ford Econoline Pickup. I still have it, and someday it will be awesome again.

I also have a 2012 Fiat 500 for daily commute, and a 1999 Valkyrie for 2-wheeling excitement. The Ranger has been a wonderful little truck, but it's now delegated to trips to Menards and driving when there's too much snow for the other vehicles --- which, in Minnesota, is about 5 months out of the year.

So, hoping to glean some info from all of you. I would *ideally* like to do a pop and replace rather than a rebuild, but if I do have to do a rebuild I'll have lots of questions. Thanks in advance for all of your helps.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[beepinX]

Sounds a good fleet of cars you have. You are on the right place for knowledge for your ranger. Welcome

 

[Mike65]

John, welcome. I also have a 00 Ranger 4x4 4.0L that I just replaced the heads a month ago. What kind of problem are you having?.

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site John, that Econoline pickup is awesome!

Tony

 

[jwinker]

Thanks everybody!

John, welcome. I also have a 00 Ranger 4x4 4.0L that I just replaced the heads a month ago. What kind of problem are you having?.

Mike, I have low compression on two cylinders, either 1 & 6 or 3 & 4, can't remember which set right now, but front on one side & rear on the other side. I'm a bit concerned it's two cracked heads?

The truck runs OK most of the time, but terrible mileage (sub-12mpg consistently) and runs on 4 cylinders when first started, then 5, then eventually 6 after about 30 seconds. It will occasionally sputter & die when coming to a stop, usually after freeway speeds for a while. It starts right back up when this happens, or if possible I can floor it and it will "clear" whatever the problem is --- until the next stop where it might do it again?

There is also a significant oil leak I need to find and fix. I think it's the rear of the oil pan, the rear main seal, or the back of the intake manifold.

Then, there's the spark plugs. I have owned the truck for over 10 years now, and every spring & fall I foul the plugs. I switch them out with a fresh set (which, for over two years, has just been the previous set cleaned up), and it runs fine for about 6 months, then fouls the plugs again. I have tried numerous brands and qualities, all the way up to some $10ea super-lightning something-or-another plugs that did absolutely no better than any other attempts. I believe right now I am either using a set of Autolite or Motorcraft OEM style platinum plugs that were about $3 each. I have the two brands to differentiate when I switch between them, but I'm not sure which ones are in the truck right now.

Tony, the E100 was my first car & I just purchased a new battery for it. Hope to get working on it again this summer, once the Ranger is fixed again.

 

[Mike65]

John, the fouling spark plug was the problem I was having in #4 cyl, I would replace it & about 1 month later it would foul again. I did this for about 1 year before tearing the engine apart to find both heads cracked. I bought my Ranger used so do not know the previous owner history. But from what I have read on the Ranger forums if the engine was overheated there is a good chance the head or heads are cracked. Mine were cracked in cylinders #3 (pass side rear), & #4 (drivers side front) between the valves.
Mike.

 

[tonytheexplorer]

Welcome! Hello from Las Vegas!

 

[jwinker]

Does anybody know, can I swap the OHV engine with a SOHC engine without swapping the ECU? I have a relatively low-miles 2002 SOHC engine available to me, but the ECU is already taken.