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07-03-2019, 03:12 PM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Better than me...
I am dealing with a slight oil issue. I am losing oil but cannot see oil on my engine. I replaced Valve cover gasket, just got transmission back in from rear main seal replacement. Still losing oil. Pulled Pressure switch and was very loose in filter adapter and replaced. Still losing oil but only while running. Does not leave a puddle when parked. Filled with oil and let run while on cardboard. Still getting some seepage around the bell housing but it seems to be draining on it as I am sure the rear main is not leaking. About to lose my mind on this thing. Love it but am seriously tired of pouring oil thru it.
Any ideas that don't include fire?
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07-03-2019, 08:42 PM
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Vehicle Upfitters
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 344
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Re: Better than me...
Have you done a compression or a Leak down test to see if your burning it?
If its not puddling up under the vehicle its got to be going through the combustion chamber whether bad rings or bad valve seals. If its consuming oil upon acceleration its going to be a rings issue, if under deceleration or downshifting it'll be the valve seals unless there is an issue within another part of the system we're all missing.
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07-04-2019, 08:38 AM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Re: Better than me...
Interesting. Question: if I am burning or bypassing somehow would there not be smoke or some other indication? I have to question though, I still get 25 to 28 mpg and have never had a fouling or evidence on plugs.
I have a picture that I'll try and upload when I return.
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07-05-2019, 02:10 AM
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Vehicle Upfitters
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Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 344
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Re: Better than me...
Quote:
Originally Posted by UnNFormedFan
Interesting. Question: if I am burning or bypassing somehow would there not be smoke or some other indication? I have to question though, I still get 25 to 28 mpg and have never had a fouling or evidence on plugs.
I have a picture that I'll try and upload when I return.
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It may be slight, only under hard acceleration where you might see some exhaust evidence. Not likely anything near improperly clocked rings of course but if you did a leak down test, you should find your answer. It could be a cracked ring. Maybe not hard driving being the issue, perhaps just driving a lot or for long periods of time? Hard to say but this should keep you from guessing if the OPEC oil gnomes are thiefing your oil or your burning it.
Tool can be rented from any local autoparts store that rents tools. Autozone happens to be this: https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-a...r-kit/750753_0
As for some reference materials as I know the DIY crowd loves on here for a see what you're up against. Heres both a 2.7L and 4.0L Ranger leak down test videos for you and others follwing behind you perhaps some day.
2.7L
4.0L OHV
General leak down testing
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07-05-2019, 04:08 PM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Re: Better than me...
THis is when i replaced Valve cover gasket and is first time I have ever had the cover off. picture was taken at 197K miles. Since this is how I find my top end, I have a hard time thinking i have lower end damage. I never run this truck hard as it is a 4 cyl and only used to transportation. Never really had a load on the engine.
I will perform a leak down test and report results. I have tried to be meticulous on my upkeep on the engine of this one since I bought it new and want to try and make it last longer than I do. Being on SSDI, it is hard to replace a vehicle.
Also, the only oil that has even been in it is Royal Purple so I am really hoping that helps with longevity.
Last edited by UnNFormedFan; 07-05-2019 at 07:35 PM.
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07-06-2019, 05:14 AM
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Liking the Ford Ranger Forum
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 26
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Re: Better than me...
You mentioned that there appears to be a track coming down the bellhousing... did you track this back to the top side? Oil, like $#!+, runs downhill! Seeing you’ve already had the cam cover off, were there any signs at the back?
__________________
2000 Supercab 3.0 auto RWD
Previous:
2002 Explorer 4.6 Eddie Bauer 4x4
1999 Ranger Supercab 3.0 5-spd RWD
1986 Ranger 2.9 RWD
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07-06-2019, 09:27 AM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Re: Better than me...
Quote:
Originally Posted by zpn_by
You mentioned that there appears to be a track coming down the bellhousing... did you track this back to the top side? Oil, like $#!+, runs downhill! Seeing you’ve already had the cam cover off, were there any signs at the back?
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No, I saw no indications. I thought that the cam cover might have been the culprit because the mounting bolts were really loose. I am unable to really see behind the head/cover and firewall. I guess at this point I am mostly venting I guess taking intake manifold is again in my future. I am waiting on it to cool off a bit before I get the leak down test as 108 heat index is a little warm to be working under the hood.
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07-08-2019, 04:53 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,086
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Re: Better than me...
Which engine do you have? No mention. The 2.3 Duratec has rubber(?) gaskets/washers around the cam cover bolts that are like hens teeth to find. The rubber bushing can break down over time and allow seepage. The Lima has a difficult to seal cam cover. I have had little luck getting it to stop seeping.
The PCV valve might be pulling too much through the crankcase and feeding the oil to the engine. It could also be plugged, and not passing anything, which could raise crankcase pressure and force oil out the easiest spot to seep.
How much oil is consumed per thousand miles. Per Ford, a quart per 500 miles was labeled 'acceptable' for a brand new vehicle back when. Owner ended up with a new short block as his ate more oil than that.
You should be able to clean the oil from the bell housing and NOT have it reappear. If there is continual seepage, then perhaps the rear main seal installation did not go as expected, and the shop that did the work as some 'splainin' to do. It should not seep or leak at all unless damaged, poorly installed, or there was a groove in the crankshaft seal area they did not address. It may have needed a sleeve, depending on mileage and condition.
tom
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07-19-2019, 03:20 PM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Re: Better than me...
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomw0
Which engine do you have? No mention. The 2.3 Duratec has rubber(?) gaskets/washers around the cam cover bolts that are like hens teeth to find. The rubber bushing can break down over time and allow seepage. The Lima has a difficult to seal cam cover. I have had little luck getting it to stop seeping.
The PCV valve might be pulling too much through the crankcase and feeding the oil to the engine. It could also be plugged, and not passing anything, which could raise crankcase pressure and force oil out the easiest spot to seep.
How much oil is consumed per thousand miles. Per Ford, a quart per 500 miles was labeled 'acceptable' for a brand new vehicle back when. Owner ended up with a new short block as his ate more oil than that.
You should be able to clean the oil from the bell housing and NOT have it reappear. If there is continual seepage, then perhaps the rear main seal installation did not go as expected, and the shop that did the work as some 'splainin' to do. It should not seep or leak at all unless damaged, poorly installed, or there was a groove in the crankshaft seal area they did not address. It may have needed a sleeve, depending on mileage and condition.
tom
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I have the Duratech and am beginning to believe that it just enjoys getting fresh oil. I am consuming about a qt per tank of gas. I put cardboard under it while I let it run for over an hour and had a few drops fall that appeared to be mixed in the AC condensate dripping. As I lie under the engine, I saw one drop of oil on the metal water line that mounts under the exhaust manifold. This kind of leads me back to the valve cover. As far as the rear main is concerned, I didn't take it to a shop, I did it myself. I have confirmed that it is not leaking there. Lucky me, pulling transmission in the driveway out front is no picnic. Apparently, all the attempts I have made to rectify this leak have been completely unsuccessful. Checked PCV system, it appears to be functioning normally. If the heat index ever gets back down below 100 I will make another attempt at pulling valve cover
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07-21-2019, 06:10 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,086
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Re: Better than me...
For the PCV, find the tube that feeds fresh air(filtered) into the crankcase. Disconnect it and with the engine at idle, put a finger over the tube opening. Wait. After maybe .5 minute, you should feel a slight vacuum forming. If you have another style, such as the air goes through the oil filler, remove the filler, and place a 'magazine blow-in' postcard over the opening, again engine at idle. After a bit, the postcard should be held to the opening by engine vacuum. If so, the PCV should be considered functional.
The cam cover on the duratec is sealed by 'rubber' gasketry that fits into a groove on the bottom of the cover. If the material gets hard over time(it does), it may not be pliant enough to seal, and needs replacement. As above, the fasteners are sealed by grommets, which also harden and allow leakage. There are also gaskets around the spark plug openings which will foul the COP boots with oil if allowed to deteriorate. Misfire will result.
tom
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07-23-2019, 06:24 PM
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One day at a time
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 95
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Re: Better than me...
You don't mention how much oil is being lost.
I presume since its not pouring out, nor did you state youre losing "a quart a week" or something outrageous, my bet is either worn oil control rings, or valve stem seals.
My truck had 213k and some change on it when I refreshed the whole bit. Let me say this, there wasnt much left of the stock oil control ring that wasn't covered in some sort of caked in oil/carbon deposits. This is also after running synthetic its whole life, and being taken care of quite well. It just had a pesky coolant leak on the rear water neck.
If you don't know about that on the 2.3NS (Duratech) then I'm sure you will find out LOL
__________________
2001.5 2.3 213xxx and counting
M501-HD L154 Manual
Don't bother looking for 1st gear synchros, I bought the last one
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08-01-2019, 02:55 PM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Re: Better than me...
Quote:
Originally Posted by turismolover22
You don't mention how much oil is being lost.
I presume since its not pouring out, nor did you state youre losing "a quart a week" or something outrageous, my bet is either worn oil control rings, or valve stem seals.
My truck had 213k and some change on it when I refreshed the whole bit. Let me say this, there wasnt much left of the stock oil control ring that wasn't covered in some sort of caked in oil/carbon deposits. This is also after running synthetic its whole life, and being taken care of quite well. It just had a pesky coolant leak on the rear water neck.
If you don't know about that on the 2.3NS (Duratech) then I'm sure you will find out LOL
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I am going thru a qt per thankful of gas. Pouring that much thru it has to smoke if I'm burning thru that much. I am really at a loss here. I have been a mechanic for 25 years and this has me flummoxed.
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08-01-2019, 05:43 PM
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One day at a time
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 95
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Re: Better than me...
Quote:
Originally Posted by UnNFormedFan
I am going thru a qt per thankful of gas. Pouring that much thru it has to smoke if I'm burning thru that much. I am really at a loss here. I have been a mechanic for 25 years and this has me flummoxed.
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If you're losing a quart a week, and you can't see any visible loss on the exterior, you are burning it. There isn't any other place for it to go unless its in your coolant.
Run a leakdown test and see what you come back with.
__________________
2001.5 2.3 213xxx and counting
M501-HD L154 Manual
Don't bother looking for 1st gear synchros, I bought the last one
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08-04-2019, 05:25 AM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,086
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Re: Better than me...
One other cause for oil consumption is the PCV system. If plugged or the oil separator is clogged you can feed oil mist into the intake and it will get burned at a low enough rate you may not see blue smoke. The PCV should suck a blow-in magazine card onto the cam cover with the filler cap removed and the engine at idle. IOW, it should build a slight vacuum at idle, if the PCV works and the rings are not stuck.
You can do a check on the rings by doing a compression test, recording the values, and then putting a Tbsp of oil into the cylinders and repeating. The lube will seal the bad rings for a while, and numbers will go up if the rings are leaky. Small improvement indicates rings are in decent shape.
The oil separator is a canister on the drivers side, under the intake manifold, plugged into the side of the block. The PCV tube leads from it to the valve(inline) and thence to the intake manifold. FWIW.
tom
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08-05-2019, 04:48 PM
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So far so good
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
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Re: Better than me...
I have checked PCV and it is all working as it should. But, today I went around the corner and upon returning I caught a slight odor of burning oil and what I seem to have found is that the bolts mounting the valve cover have oil on the threads that go thru the head and are open on the bottom. I had wet oil on the bottom end of the 2 bolts easiest to get to. Have never seen or even heard of this being an issue.. I'll put thread seal on the bolts and see if that stops it.
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