ylidk
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2018
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 7
- Points
- 8
- Location
- KS
- Vehicle Year
- 1991
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.3l L4
- Transmission
- Manual
Hello all, I'm currently in the middle of a distributed turbo 2.3 conversion from a 1988 Thunderbird Turbocoupe into my 1991 Ranger, which had the EDIS 2.3 stock. I am running into a bizarre issue where the fuel pressure is bleeding down after letting the fuel pump prime the engine. I have done many tests and keep ending up confused as to what is actually causing the issue. I can't get the truck started for more than a second or two, so I can't say what the behavior is while running.
To start: I have tested the turbocoupe fuel rail with the stock turbocoupe fuel pressure regulator, the stock ranger regulator, and a Stinger Performance adjustable fuel pressure regulator, as well as the stock ranger fuel rail with all 3 regulators as well. The fuel pressure bleeds down in all 6 cases, very quickly. I have tested the test kit on my '89 F150 with the 4.9L and the fuel pressure holds strong at 45 PSI, so the test kit gauge is good. I have also disconnected my F150 fuel lines and hooked them up to the ranger and turbocoupe fuel rails, and they bleed down as they did on the ranger's fuel system, with each regulator, so I can safely say the problem is isolated to the fuel rails, injectors or regulators. I have replaced the o-rings on the fuel injectors, and the fuel pressure still bleeds down quickly. I do not see any fuel leaks anywhere, on the rail, at the connections by the fuel filter or along the frame rail toward the tank. I have not dropped the tank and checked the pump, but since the problem transferred to the F150 I feel confident enough in not messing with the pump.
I also disconnected the fuel return line from the rail, and plugged the return port, primed the engine and it pressurized to 55 PSI, and held steady. This makes me believe the drain is coming through the regulator, but since the issue occurred on 3 different regulators on two different fuel rails, I'm not so sure. I don't want to fire the parts cannon and buy another regulator or deal with replacing the performance regulator if it isn't bad. Is this normal behavior for a fuel pressure regulator on the 2.3L engines? I am basing my knowledge on experience with my F150 where it primes and holds steady - I can't imagine the 2.3 behaves differently, but between 2 fuel rails and 3 regulators all having the same behavior I'm starting to wonder.
I also noticed that as the pressure drops, it briefly ticks up in pressure after a certain point, depending on what pressure the regulator is set to. With the adjustable regulator set to 45 PSI, the pressure will tick up at around 35 PSI back to 40 PSI, then continue dropping to ~20-25 PSI, where it slows down a bit, eventually bleeding down to 0 PSI. I have a video of the gauge, but wasn't able to attach it here. Let me know if there are any details or tests I missed. Thanks in advance for any advice you guys might have.
To start: I have tested the turbocoupe fuel rail with the stock turbocoupe fuel pressure regulator, the stock ranger regulator, and a Stinger Performance adjustable fuel pressure regulator, as well as the stock ranger fuel rail with all 3 regulators as well. The fuel pressure bleeds down in all 6 cases, very quickly. I have tested the test kit on my '89 F150 with the 4.9L and the fuel pressure holds strong at 45 PSI, so the test kit gauge is good. I have also disconnected my F150 fuel lines and hooked them up to the ranger and turbocoupe fuel rails, and they bleed down as they did on the ranger's fuel system, with each regulator, so I can safely say the problem is isolated to the fuel rails, injectors or regulators. I have replaced the o-rings on the fuel injectors, and the fuel pressure still bleeds down quickly. I do not see any fuel leaks anywhere, on the rail, at the connections by the fuel filter or along the frame rail toward the tank. I have not dropped the tank and checked the pump, but since the problem transferred to the F150 I feel confident enough in not messing with the pump.
I also disconnected the fuel return line from the rail, and plugged the return port, primed the engine and it pressurized to 55 PSI, and held steady. This makes me believe the drain is coming through the regulator, but since the issue occurred on 3 different regulators on two different fuel rails, I'm not so sure. I don't want to fire the parts cannon and buy another regulator or deal with replacing the performance regulator if it isn't bad. Is this normal behavior for a fuel pressure regulator on the 2.3L engines? I am basing my knowledge on experience with my F150 where it primes and holds steady - I can't imagine the 2.3 behaves differently, but between 2 fuel rails and 3 regulators all having the same behavior I'm starting to wonder.
I also noticed that as the pressure drops, it briefly ticks up in pressure after a certain point, depending on what pressure the regulator is set to. With the adjustable regulator set to 45 PSI, the pressure will tick up at around 35 PSI back to 40 PSI, then continue dropping to ~20-25 PSI, where it slows down a bit, eventually bleeding down to 0 PSI. I have a video of the gauge, but wasn't able to attach it here. Let me know if there are any details or tests I missed. Thanks in advance for any advice you guys might have.