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1997 xlt extra cab 5spd 2wd 4.0 sluggish


Rick W

Lil Big Rig

⭐Supporting Member
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Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
4,163
Points
601
Age
70
City
Atlanta
State - Country
GA - USA
Other
Manufacturers factory tour, maybe big dealership tour
Vehicle Year
1997 1987
Vehicle
Ford Ranger
Engine
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
Total Lift
97 stock, 3” on 87
Total Drop
N/A
Tire Size
235/75-15
My credo
Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
HELP!!!

I need some help troubleshooting a lack of power in my Road Ranger. 1997 4.0 ohv

Let me first offer what I think is wrong with it. I did a little tuneup work, and then I ran some carb/injector cleaner through it, and I think crap broke loose and has fouled my injectors.

The whole story. Truck has run like new the whole time I’ve had it, about 30,000 miles. It has 320,000 on it. When I came back from Ford nationals (2,000 miles), I had a slight drop in power on the way home. 10% ? Nothing specific, I figured it just needed a tuneup.

Driver front plug was wobbly finger loose and I had thick soot in my left pipe. I replaced the plugs and the wires. Didn’t seem to make it difference. I ran a can of sea foam through a full tank of gas. Didn’t seem to make a difference.

I ran 8 ounces of carbiclean in 8 gallons of gas, drove 35 miles at highway speed to the cute little brunette‘s house, and a few few hours later drove 35 miles back at Highway speed. Then I let it sit a couple days.

Starts right up and purrs, but very low power if you hit the gas. Once it was moving, if you step down hard on the gas it initially runs smooth and then it bogs down like it is flooded or maybe like it isn’t getting enough fuel. If I pump the pedal fast, it will surge and smooth out but then bog down again when I step on the gas hard. It’s almost undrivable, and I can’t believe I have a serious mechanical problem. Again, I think the injectors are fouled.

I changed the fuel filter as an afterthought and I changed the PCV valve, that didn’t help.

After reading more stuff, sources say that the sea foam could loosen up crap that will hang in the injectors, and that the carbiclean is much better, but can also allow crud to hang up in the injectors. From the internet, I understand that BG 44K is it supposed to be a superior product that will actually dissolve the carbon and varnish, and hence clean out the injectors.

I bought a new set of injectors and upper intake gaskets, but that’s a pretty big job for me. I also bought a new ignition block where the plug wires go, but I haven’t put it on yet.

Should I try the BG 44K stuff?

Any and all suggestions are welcome, I’m kind of stumped.
 
Have you pulled plugs since running the cleaner through it? If you have what did they look like? Was one significantly different?

I'm guessing you've done plug reading before?
 
Have you pulled plugs since running the cleaner through it? If you have what did they look like? Was one significantly different?

I'm guessing you've done plug reading before?

Not yet, I was busy with @Peter_'86_2.9L_Auto ‘s truck and a few other things, but it was on my list.
 

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