2.5L ('98-'01) 2000 ford ranger 2.5l engine problems

[DCman]

Usually, you'd be right Mike, but every once in a blue moon, you'll run across a leak that occurs in the opposite manner.
Its not common, but it happens.

 

[tomw]

You are likekly running on all three.... Higher rpms cover the misfire to the point you don't hear/detect is, but the performance limits suggest you are not using the full four to produce power.
If you have a dead miss at idle, it is noticeable. Rev the engine, and it seems to 'go away'. It did not go away, it was just covered by other noises, and disguised by the fact the crankshaft is rotating faster. You may get some power out of a bad cylinder(valves/rings) as the cycle does not leave a lot of time for the fuel:air mix to leak out before the sparky tries to get it to burn. It may burn, but won't add a lot to the output power.
Have you done a compression test? Leakdown test? Those will tell the tale of mechanical problems. Fuel or ignition problems won't generally show on either test, so if the numbers are good, start looking at fuel & sparky.
tom

 

[GunnerPaul76]

So that's it? I am having the same issues and feel like giving up on it. Been trying to figure it out for a few yrs now. replaced the head 2 times and every sensors more than once, especially the iac. Finally broke down and spent the big bucks for real oem parts w/little to no change. Sucks mostly because it only has 115k on it. My father picked it up brand new and it sat for several months at a time after he had a stroke. My uncle abused it w/out his knowing. Once I got my hands on it I had to start replacing parts the first day, check engine light. Fixed it drove great for about a year then timing belt snapped. FIXED it was running good again then just died at a stoplight and had to have it towed home. Found a bad head gasket replaced it and got a rebuilt head. Had a hard time w/timing this time around and somehow broke a rocker arm. So sent it back and got another head. It struggles to run at first really have to rev it to get it to idle. Then it idles and runs smooth and perfect no shaking. But it has no balls at all. It will not take full throttle until it is moving pretty good. So that's where I'm at w/it. It is sitting and waiting for Jesus to come. I just don't know what to do. I love the truck but it is so frustrating and being a Vet w/ ptsd I get so stressed about and constantly have to walk away from it. It is in great shape, it's lifted geared brand new 33 inch tires custom rear bump w/ tire carrier that I made camper shell. Interior is really nice sound system. So I picked up a 5.0l exploder thinking v8 swap but now don't have it in me to ruin the explorer cause it's in pretty good condition too. Picked it up for 600 from a kid joining the service and his parents wanted it gone because he stopped driving it due to the door handles not working and having to crawl threw the back hatch plus the window motors all f-ed up too. It is a 97 w/ 135k mi. So ummm that's about all I got. What would you guys do ? I know it could always be worse and I'm not trying to sound like a cry baby or anything it's just I don't understand why I can't fix this damn motor.... Anyways thanks for reading Ranger ramblings and take her easy guys.