- Moderator
- #1
I've got a 2.3 in my Ranger, with a bit under 250k on it. Mostly unloaded highway miles, Mobil1 synthetic every 5k since new. (Fram filters until I got it at 200k, now Motorcraft. Same oil, though.)
It seems to run OK, and doesn't really show any signs of being totally worn out.
Leaks no oil, burns maybe a quart or a little less between 5k changes- hardly worrying, especially since I'm told it's done that most of it's life. Uses a little coolant- I add a pint or two every couple of months. Can't tell where it's going, but it smells like coolant under the hood sometimes, so I'm thinking there's a leak I just haven't found yet.
Engine sounds good most of the time- little valve clatter on startup if it's been sitting for a long time in cold weather, but never more than a minute. But, the steering pump is a typical Ford pump- noisy as all getout...could be covering some other sounds, I suppose.
I don't know a whole lot, but it seems to me all signs point to it still being pretty good. Are there any checks I can or should do to get a better feel for the condition of this engine? I'm kind of at the point of deciding if I should fix up this truck, or replace it (I really don't want to sell it, so I'll probably fix it), and I'd like to get an idea of the condition of the engine. If it's going bad and I decide to keep the truck, it'd be nice to know enough in advance to rebuild a junkyard motor and have it ready to drop in...
Thanks!
It seems to run OK, and doesn't really show any signs of being totally worn out.
Leaks no oil, burns maybe a quart or a little less between 5k changes- hardly worrying, especially since I'm told it's done that most of it's life. Uses a little coolant- I add a pint or two every couple of months. Can't tell where it's going, but it smells like coolant under the hood sometimes, so I'm thinking there's a leak I just haven't found yet.
Engine sounds good most of the time- little valve clatter on startup if it's been sitting for a long time in cold weather, but never more than a minute. But, the steering pump is a typical Ford pump- noisy as all getout...could be covering some other sounds, I suppose.
I don't know a whole lot, but it seems to me all signs point to it still being pretty good. Are there any checks I can or should do to get a better feel for the condition of this engine? I'm kind of at the point of deciding if I should fix up this truck, or replace it (I really don't want to sell it, so I'll probably fix it), and I'd like to get an idea of the condition of the engine. If it's going bad and I decide to keep the truck, it'd be nice to know enough in advance to rebuild a junkyard motor and have it ready to drop in...
Thanks!
Last edited: