Is 150k miles TOO many miles??

[deerman2701]

Im looking at this 94 ford ranger with the 3.0 in it the v6 and 4x4 it is inspected till dec and newer clutch and ball joints.. it has the 5 speed tranny in it also.

now i havent see it yet but the guy says its nice interior and no rust.

but it does have 150k miles on it... i wont be using this truck as a daily driver since i have a civic for my job but i will be towing and hauling stuff to and from ohio (about 150 miles round trip)

should i take my chances or is this too many miles? i know in the honda world (im more fimiliar in that world) 150k miles is really nothing..

but what about on fords? is the 3.0 reliable?

my last ranger was a 89 with the 2.3 in it and that was reliable and had aroun 150k miles on it..

should i buy or look for more?

the truck is $2500 bucks

 

[deerman2701]

also he says he said its posi trac too? i didnt think ranger had posi do you think he welded the diff?

 

[EMB1230]

150 is not bad at all for a 94. The 3.0 was one of Ford's best engines, and lucky for you 94 was the last year they used a distributor so you won't have to worry about the dreaded 3.0 camshaft synchronizer issue. 2.3 is also a excellent engine, the one in Rangers that had the most issues was the Cologne family (2.8, 2.9 & 4.0)

 

[deerman2701]

okay thanks so you think i should take my chances and go with that truck? i just didnt know if the 3.0 was a good engine


i want reliability not power really

also is it true this truck is factory with posi?

 

[pcollins]

150 is not bad at all for a 94. The 3.0 was one of Ford's best engines, and lucky for you 94 was the last year they used a distributor so you won't have to worry about the dreaded 3.0 camshaft synchronizer issue. 2.3 is also a excellent engine, the one in Rangers that had the most issues was the Cologne family (2.8, 2.9 & 4.0)

?? my 4.0 has 150,127 miles on it without even so much as a valve tick. It all depends on how you Maintain it.

 

[PORTnPOLISH]

I just bought a 94 with 200k on a 4.0. People worry to much about mileage on engines IMO. The biggest pos cars I have ever owned happen to be the 2 with the lowest mileage and the best I ever had was an 85 accord with 280k on her. I drove that car for 5 years with no issues at all.

 

[EMB1230]

okay thanks so you think i should take my chances and go with that truck? i just didnt know if the 3.0 was a good engine


i want reliability not power really

also is it true this truck is factory with posi?

Yeah, I say go for it! 3.0's with Manual actually have a little uumph, it's the ones with Auto that are slugs! As far as having L/S, I'd say look at the sticker on the door/near the door it'll have codes on it look them up on the Tech Library on here and you'll find out which diff you have, gear ratio, etc.

 

[deerman2701]

okay i think im gonna go out and check it out!


anything i should look for when buying a used ranger?

im only 19 and dont know that much but advice would be appriciated

 

[pcollins]

wear old clothes, get under the truck and examine EVERYTHING. look for broken parts, leaks, see what you can on the rotors, hows the rot? shine a flashlight up in the dark spaces. check driveshafts etc for JY numbers, if you see any ask why it was replaced. check for U joint play, tranny mount play. anything you know shouldn't move, try and move it. How clean is the engine bay? hows the oil level? yank the cover on the bellhousing and see if the Pressure plate is nice and silver, indicating it really was replaced. Even if it takes two hours, just go over the whole truck. check the condition of the serpentine belt, power steering fluid level.


I've been working on cars, tractors, atvs, anything mechanical since the first memory i have. Back in october i got shafted buying an F150, in supposedly good shape. Well, i've already had to replace the bearings, rotors, stabalizer links, diff gasket, rear wheel cylinder and brake line from master all the way back. Whyd I, with so much mechanical knowledge get shafted? Over excitement, lack of patience. I wanted the truck so bad I pretty much believed what the guy told me. Don't do that, take your time to go over the truck THOROUGHLY. If someone comes along and buys it before you decide, no biggie. Start lookin again.

 

[Rearanger]

It all depends on how you Maintain it.

^^Exactly! Does he have service records? What type of towing are you going to be doing in what type of terrain? I'm thinking the posi was put there for his race desires and would suspect how this truck has been treated. As usual with these purchases an unemotional opinion by a mechanic is usually best. Compression test and used oil analysis (if you have the time, $25) would also give good indications of engine wear.

 

[t0x1k]

250K miles and I beat the shit out of it. Only thing it really needs right now is a new oil pan gasket, doesnt leak a drop of oil and doesn't burn a drop.

 

[deerman2701]

wait so posi isnt standard from factory and he had to install it himself? maybe he meant to say limited slip???
and i will be hauling atv's

 

[deerman2701]

he said he changed the rear to 373 posi? does that tell you guys anything?

 

[JohnnyO]

but what about on fords? is the 3.0 reliable?

As long as it has been decently maintained, it will run forever. Bud of mine has a 96 Ranger with a 3.0 and over 250,000 miles and it's never been apart. The wife's Taurus has a 3.0 and other than leaking a little oil it runs like new with 137,000 on it.

 

[deerman2701]

I dunno about this guy haha he emails me one time and says its posi, then the next he says its limited slip, then he said he changed the rear to a 373 posi, and now he said its limited slip again wtf!