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- Jul 27, 2018
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- Seattle, WA
- Vehicle Year
- 1998
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 4.0L V6 OHV
- Transmission
- Automatic
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Hi all, I just joined up today and this is my first thread! I'm a novice mechanic working down list of suggested repairs from a local shop for a 98' Ranger 4.0L v6 OHV I recently bought off craigslist with 156k miles to be a daily driver.
I have completely lost oil pressure after swapping out both valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, and wires. To my knowledge, I had no oil pressure issues before this repair. I decided to start with typical tune up procedures and then attempt more complicated repairs as needed.
Two weeks ago I ran motor medic MF3 flush, changed my oil and filter (Castrol synth 5-30w / Phram PH8A), my PCV valve (MicroGuard PCV375), fuel filter (MG 3595), and air filter.
Drove it around all next week with no issues what so ever.
Next I swapped out both valve cover gaskets with Fel-Pro's model VS50368T. This combo comes with a fuel rail gasket that I did not install as one wasn't there when I pulled off the upper intake manifold. Being this was my first time digging into my engine this far, I didn't take anything else apart past this point. The lower manifold wasn't touched nor was anything below the valve covers (except the spark plugs).
I cleaned the tops of the valve covers with brakeklean since they were caked with oil and dirt. I also cleaned the upper intake, the top of the fuel rail, and where I mounted the valve cover gaskets pretty thoroughly. I left the previous upper intake gaskets in as they didn't appear to be in bad shape. I applied Permatex between the head and the gasket but not between the gasket and the valve cover. I tightened the valve cover bolts and upper intake bolts to the torque specs listed in the Haynes repair manual I used to remove valve covers.
The old spark plugs were beat up and under gaped to about .042 (I forget the model). My replacement AP103 plugs said they were pre-gaped but they too were under spec. I gaped all six plugs to roughly .054-.055 (granted my cheap little gap coin is accurate..) I put on new Omni Spark 9572 wires (I now realize these guys might be cheapies) so I might put on the old motor craft ones because they look to be better quality and in ok shape. These are wired correctly according the Haynes manual and everything I've seen online for my engine and year.
I hook everything back up and when I turn my key to the on position, my check gauge light illuminates and I have no oil pressure. Everything else looks good on the dash. I tried starting it a few times (left it park) and the tachometer varies between 300-2000 RPMs. Initially the motor would die after a few seconds unless I gave it gas. It sounded normal, but as soon as I let off the gas, it would fall below 500 RPMs and eventually die.
Now that my bolts are correctly torqued, the RPMs still vary heavily between 500-2000 but will stay on without giving it gas. The oil pressure gauge floats around from 0-50% and the check gauge light goes off. After 1 minute of the motor being on, I see a small amount of smoke come out under the #2 spark plug on the passenger side valve cover. I cant quite tell whats leaking or where its leaking from. My first thought is oil is leaking on the spark plug since the motor isn't hot enough to smoke at that point? Just a guess.
Sorry for the long winded post but I am pretty stumped here! Any info, comments, thoughts are greatly appreciated!
I have completely lost oil pressure after swapping out both valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, and wires. To my knowledge, I had no oil pressure issues before this repair. I decided to start with typical tune up procedures and then attempt more complicated repairs as needed.
Two weeks ago I ran motor medic MF3 flush, changed my oil and filter (Castrol synth 5-30w / Phram PH8A), my PCV valve (MicroGuard PCV375), fuel filter (MG 3595), and air filter.
Drove it around all next week with no issues what so ever.
Next I swapped out both valve cover gaskets with Fel-Pro's model VS50368T. This combo comes with a fuel rail gasket that I did not install as one wasn't there when I pulled off the upper intake manifold. Being this was my first time digging into my engine this far, I didn't take anything else apart past this point. The lower manifold wasn't touched nor was anything below the valve covers (except the spark plugs).
I cleaned the tops of the valve covers with brakeklean since they were caked with oil and dirt. I also cleaned the upper intake, the top of the fuel rail, and where I mounted the valve cover gaskets pretty thoroughly. I left the previous upper intake gaskets in as they didn't appear to be in bad shape. I applied Permatex between the head and the gasket but not between the gasket and the valve cover. I tightened the valve cover bolts and upper intake bolts to the torque specs listed in the Haynes repair manual I used to remove valve covers.
The old spark plugs were beat up and under gaped to about .042 (I forget the model). My replacement AP103 plugs said they were pre-gaped but they too were under spec. I gaped all six plugs to roughly .054-.055 (granted my cheap little gap coin is accurate..) I put on new Omni Spark 9572 wires (I now realize these guys might be cheapies) so I might put on the old motor craft ones because they look to be better quality and in ok shape. These are wired correctly according the Haynes manual and everything I've seen online for my engine and year.
I hook everything back up and when I turn my key to the on position, my check gauge light illuminates and I have no oil pressure. Everything else looks good on the dash. I tried starting it a few times (left it park) and the tachometer varies between 300-2000 RPMs. Initially the motor would die after a few seconds unless I gave it gas. It sounded normal, but as soon as I let off the gas, it would fall below 500 RPMs and eventually die.
Now that my bolts are correctly torqued, the RPMs still vary heavily between 500-2000 but will stay on without giving it gas. The oil pressure gauge floats around from 0-50% and the check gauge light goes off. After 1 minute of the motor being on, I see a small amount of smoke come out under the #2 spark plug on the passenger side valve cover. I cant quite tell whats leaking or where its leaking from. My first thought is oil is leaking on the spark plug since the motor isn't hot enough to smoke at that point? Just a guess.
Sorry for the long winded post but I am pretty stumped here! Any info, comments, thoughts are greatly appreciated!
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