Average mileage til rebuild on a 2.9L

FORDnewb · Sep 17, 2012

So looking at a truck right now....1991 Ranger with a 2.9L V6......just wondering what the average amount of miles that one of these engines usually gets til rebuild time.

I know that it depends on maintenance and how it was treated but lets just say we're talking about a well taken care of engine.

Is 140k pushing the limits of this engines life or is she just getting warmed up?

Thanks for any input and words of wisdom.

the newb

adsm08 · Sep 17, 2012

Well, my original 2.9 was well maintained but used very hard through it's life. It was still running, but noticeably lacking in power when it was pulled out and replaced at 205,000 miles.

Another member on here has an 86 BII. The original engine had over 400,000 miles when the flex plate broke at 75 MPH and let the bottom end of the engine tear itself apart after revving up over 7,000 RPM.

If it has the good head, which it should by 91, and hasn't been overheated it should go just about forever. The weakest point in the engine are the cam bearings and lifters.

doorgunner · Sep 17, 2012

My '89 Ranger 2WD A/T went 200,000 miles...

It used a quart of oil every 3,000 miles....

when the electronics/sensors/etc. on the engine began failing, I swapped to a carbed/mechanical distributor V8.....

If the electronic would have held up, I'd still be using that 2.9L......

so.......I'm guessing 250,000.....

then do a rebuild/rings/bearings/camshaft/lifters/rocker arms/pushrods

FORDnewb · Sep 17, 2012

Thanks for the input and expertise in this matter.....Seems like a solid motor but my only concern is it might be lacking a bit in the low end torque from what I've read. Shouldn't bother me much though for what I wanna use this truck for.

I was just concerned with whether this thing would turn 200k or not.....sounds like it should.

The truck I'm probably gonna buy is in nice shape as far as body and interior but going to check the engine out tomorrow.

Anything in particular that ussually goes if not changed by certain mileages.....eg. timing belt, headd gasket....any questions I should be asking.

Thanks for any help....if all goes well tomorrow, I'll become a regular contributer to this site. :yahoo:

lil_Blue_Ford · Sep 17, 2012

Well.... my first 2.9 the previous owner replaced the heads (or said he did). At around 114k it swallowed a couple valves. Keeping the pedal held on the floorboards it made it to where I could park it for an extended period of time.

My second 2.9 cracked a number of heads until I ran out of spares and yanked the motor at less than 100k.

My third 2.9 had somewhere between 150k and 200k on it when I got it and was NOT taken care of at all. I did a full tune up and it coughed/sputtered on the shop floor for over 5 minutes before smoothing out. I ran it for 3 years after that before selling it (wish I wouldn't have done that, least troublesome truck I've owned).

My fourth 2.9 has somewhere over 100k on it and runs like a champ. It was parked for about 2 years and when I went to fire it up it cranked strong but wouldn't catch. I put the go pedal on the floor and cranked a lil more until it roared to life. Let it rev a bit and then it would idle. Moved it from one end of the property to the other and when I went back to where it sat I found that I had blew a huge mouse nest out on the ground... guess one got built in the exhaust, lol.

So I've had both good and bad luck with 'em. But if it's got 140k on it and runs good, you might have a good one. I'd stick a 180* thermostat in it and a 4.0 radiator and run 'er - your biggest enemy will be the possibility of overheating it (which is what caused all the head cracking on my second one - the previous owner split a head from overheating then I overheated it again because I couldn't find a coolant leak in time).

mike2357 · Sep 17, 2012

my brother had a STX with 2.9 it ran good for 275,000 he gave it to my dad he ran it to about 325,00 all on the original motor never did any thing except timing chain dad finely sold it still running and got a 99 Ranger 3.0 that will probably will out live him !

David88 · Sep 17, 2012

My 89 has 267K and climbing. Only thing wrong with it is a little lifter rattle.

Rowdy Fitzgerald · Sep 17, 2012

The first bronco ll I had a 2.9 ran forever! No telling the mileage on it though. Speedometer only went to 99,999.9 I rolled it over while I had it. It had 80 somethin thousand on it when I got it and I put another 30,00 on it then I changed the motor because of lack of power. It couldn't hold 60 mph in 5th gear and 31's. I ran that until I rolled it dickin around, flipped it over then put another 5-10,000 on it before retired it. I like to put a quart of Lucas oil stabilizer in them as the last quart. It seemed to get me 2-3 mpg's better than straight oil and helped with the lifter noise. I pulled that motor and put it in another Bll and ran it for a good deal longer. Not sure how many miles though. Still have that motor as a spare for my crawler. I've abused the heck out of the ones I've owned.

FORDnewb · Sep 17, 2012

Wow, it sounds like the general concensus is that this thing could run forever...if its been well taken car of.

Guess I'll have to be a good judge of character, balacne that with how many owners its had and then finally giver her a good looksy over.

Thanks for the input, hopefully this thing seems solid....the truck itself seems like a good deal....$3300, custom black rims, descent all terrains(low mileage), brush guard, high shell top with windows, nice interior......sounds about right......getting excited.

bobbywalter · Sep 17, 2012

with reg oil changes and never overheated i expect no less then 250k for any of the small fords that come in the trucks.

4x4junkie · Sep 18, 2012

Approaching 180K on my BII... Runs like a champ, not even the lifter tap some complain about. Burns no oil, leaks a little bit around the valve covers, though not really enough to drip on the ground.

Almost all of this truck's use since i got it at around 140K has been for offroad & camping excursions so the mileage would actually be much higher if it wasn't for all the driving I sometimes do for days on end in low gear (if there was an hour-meter on it, I'd bet it'd be somewhere about what a vehicle with 230K miles would have on average).

jhammel85 · Sep 24, 2012

Nothing bad here except for valve covers leaking....170k.

I would say that they last forever just like most other ford's but if you're really worried, take a compression test of it after you buy it (or before if you think they'll allow it).

Just go by the way it sounds and feels...If it's fine, then it's fine. Just keep the engine cool.

Stride505 · Jan 31, 2013

4x4junkie said:
Approaching 180K on my BII... Runs like a champ, not even the lifter tap some complain about. Burns no oil, leaks a little bit around the valve covers, though not really enough to drip on the ground.

Almost all of this truck's use since i got it at around 140K has been for offroad & camping excursions so the mileage would actually be much higher if it wasn't for all the driving I sometimes do for days on end in low gear (if there was an hour-meter on it, I'd bet it'd be somewhere about what a vehicle with 230K miles would have on average).

Do you think with everything stock on my 1991 ranger xlt super cab the motor could handle a 6" bds lift and 35s with trimmed fenders? Please let me know

doorgunner · Feb 1, 2013

180,000.............until I pressure-washed the engine.......then sensors/etc started failing.....one after the other......

but the engine compartment looked brand new...LOL!

Psychopete · Feb 1, 2013

FORDnewb said:
just wondering what the average amount of miles that one of these engines usually gets til rebuild time.

Rebuild is definitely an option, though you might consider something a little more modern. I'm not a 4.0L fan boy at all, but they addressed problems and is an all around better engine. All of the money it takes just seems like a bad investment, given what it is and the common problems. It's been out of production for 20 years...

There's no average for how long an engine needs rebuilt - you usually know when it's about to crap out on you mechanically. Everyone's experience will be different. My original 2.9L in my '88 Ranger lasted 98K; the A4LD behind it outlived it.

Average mileage til rebuild on a 2.9L

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