Compression down 29% in cylinder #4, v-6 3.0

[RyanG]

Any common causes of this with the 2000 ranger?

 

[basketranger]

if not loosing coolant, rings or valve job...time.

 

[Viper Command]

I have seen flex fuel valves eating up valve seats at 60,000 miles.

 

[Cody Ray]

You need to preform a leak down test. This will tell you whether its your rings, valves or gasket. When you do this listen to the tailpipe, intake and where you add new oil. Whistling air from intake is that valve, exhaust is that valve and oil cap will be rings. If it isn't those test the coolant for exhaust gasses. That will require a new gasket and checking the deck for warping.

 

[jfcasey]

If you don't have the equipment for a leak down test, you can also do some crude tests to check for HG leaks or worn rings.

Pull the dip stick, and hold a lighter to the oil on it. If it lights right up on fire for a few seconds than chances are you have some pretty bad blow-by.

Try dripping oil onto your exhaust headers or some hot piece of metal. If it bubbles up and boils than you've got coolant/water in your oil IE a head gasket failure. If it just smokes and stinks then you probably don't.

Again those are very crude and simple tests but can give you a quick answer to some common issues without the tools we would use in a shop.

 

[RyanG]

I appreciate all of the advice. I will check things out and get back to you.