wv_snranger
New Member
- Joined
- May 26, 2008
- Messages
- 27
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- West Virginia
- Vehicle Year
- 2002
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 5.4l V8
- Transmission
- Automatic
My 2004 2.3l Ranger has about 93,500 miles. It has puffed a little bit of blue smoke on start up for a good year now, but haven't experienced any significant oil loss between oil changes.
Last time I changed oil I discovered I had lost about 2 quarts in that 4,000 mile interval. Now I lost about 2-1/2 quarts in the last 1000 miles. The truck still runs great, does not always puff smoke when it starts up (usually only on colder mornings) and doesn't leak (already checked it over good twice this week). The puffs of blue smoke at start up, oil loss and black watery discharge from exhaust seems to be the hallmarks of valve stem seals gone bad, at least from what I have found.
I have an appointment with a local shop on Friday to look it over and give me an estimate. Expecting to have to pay in the $1000 area if that is the only problem.
So I have two questions... Hard hard is it to replace valve stem seals on a 2.3l Duratec?
Is there anything I can do in the future to help prevent excessive wear to valve stem seals?
Last time I changed oil I discovered I had lost about 2 quarts in that 4,000 mile interval. Now I lost about 2-1/2 quarts in the last 1000 miles. The truck still runs great, does not always puff smoke when it starts up (usually only on colder mornings) and doesn't leak (already checked it over good twice this week). The puffs of blue smoke at start up, oil loss and black watery discharge from exhaust seems to be the hallmarks of valve stem seals gone bad, at least from what I have found.
I have an appointment with a local shop on Friday to look it over and give me an estimate. Expecting to have to pay in the $1000 area if that is the only problem.
So I have two questions... Hard hard is it to replace valve stem seals on a 2.3l Duratec?
Is there anything I can do in the future to help prevent excessive wear to valve stem seals?