2.5L ('98-'01) 2.5L N02 Sensor

[-Nate]

I just did some routine maintenance of my 2001 Ranger trucklet with 4 cyl. 2.5 liter engine and 5 speed manual box, I have about 70 miles in it now and my butt tells me it's running smoother and has less jolt going from off throttle to on throttle .

I recently removed and ever so carefully cleaned the air intake thing (I forget the proper name) using the special $!$ aerosol cleaner .

The truck has about 140,000 miles on it and runs well but the fuel economy has been dropping steadily why I cleaned and changed . it used to get 25 + MPG but now I'm lucky to get 20, often I only get 18 ~ 19 MPG driving the same routes & speeds I always do .

Also new spark plugs .

It seems to me I'm using less foot feed to go the same speeds, I don't know if this is real or my fervid imagination .

I'm betting the next fill up and mileage check will tell but I'd love to hear any comments .

I wonder if I should remove and clean the E.G.R. valve ? . (it looks *very* delicate)

I mostly work on vintage vehicles, the only ones I have with E.G.R. valves are DIESEL powered and only open at 2,500 RPM or more and when under load, cleaning the valve on those always increases power and fuel economy .

Please chime in and give your honest thoughts .

I don't know if I mentioned I'm a Geezer and hope this will be my very last truck before I die ~ it's a total stripper, basic like I think work trucks oughta be .

TIA,

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If its not throwing a code for the EGR id leave it be

 

[-Nate]

Thanx .

 

[scotts90ranger]

If the pre cat O2 sensor hasn't been changed in a while it might be due, if you're lucky it'll come off easy, mine had almost 200k on it when I changed it and I got it off with an open end 7/8" wrench... They do have a lifespan so it is a wear item, when they age they give out lower voltage which can make the computer add fuel...

 

[-Nate]

Thank you .

Only the one was listed for my truck, I guess I'll have to go look closer and see if there's one in the exhaust manifold .

FWIW, I waited until the exhaust was cooled off then sprayed some KROIL into the joint and tapped it to help with the KROIL in, let it sit whilst I did other routine maintenance and yes, it broke free with a goodly tug on my longer ratchet handle .

I know the entire truck is Metric but thought it'd need a special tool and bought a Chinesium one in 7/8"/22MM , it worked a treat, I'll prolly never use it again .

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yes oxygen sensors are all 18mm threads and are technically 22mm hex but if you look 7/8" and 22mm are only a few thousandths apart, kinda like 5/16" and 8mm, 1/2" and 13mm, 5/8" and 16mm, 11/16" and 17mm, 3/4" and 19mm...

 

[-Nate]

THANK YOU KIND SIR .

 

[-Nate]

NOW WHAT ?! .

After cleaning the MAP sensor and replacing the No2 sensor it idles smoother, has more power and so on, I'm loving it but I filled it up today and the routine fuel economy check revealed only 16 MILES PER GALLON ~ WTH ? .

I'm going to try disconnecting the battery for a few hours and see if that resets the computer or something .

This is exactly why I prefer my 40 + year old vehicles ~ they're dead simple and always et decent fuel economy .

 

[scotts90ranger]

Unplugging the battery won't do anything, they have hard memory, the only way to clear the fuel trim on the OBD II stuff is with an OBD II tool... I don't remember if my cheap $12 blue thing will do it with the free Torque Lite app...

I'd see how it does on the next tank just for good measure, I don't have any brilliant ideas yet...

 

[-Nate]

Thanx .

My son who's a current mechanic says I disconnect the ground cable and briefly touch it to the positive cable and this grounds the system and clears it .

Can't hurt to try .

I now have an ?OBDII? scanner, I know how to plug it in but that's all, it's red, brand makes a difference maybe .

 

[scotts90ranger]

That unplugging and touching one to the other thing works for some parts of the system, you'll definitely lose your radio presets but trouble codes and fuel trims are stored, that only worked on '94 and older engines. But like you said, doesn't hurt to try...

Some scanners will do pretty much anything and others are limited... wouldn't hurt to connect it up and poke around and see if there's anything about resetting fuel trims

 

[-Nate]

He called it "global reset" .

I figured it'd wipe the CD player's settings, I can re set all that easily enough .

Worth a try in any case .