Engine trouble

[97ranger763]

So I searched through the forums but can't seem to locate a answer to my problems. I have a 97 Ranger 2.3, 4 cylinder manual. I had a solid check engine light come on as I was driving, I tried to drive it home when the light started flashing, with in a mile I saw a huge plume of smoke come out from under the truck. I rolled into my drive way and turned the truck off.
In the engine compartment oil was all over the top of the motor, I had oil in the clean air intake (like a quart). I towed it to a mechanic who said the #3 cylinder was missing and I needed a new motor. Towed it home and I changed plugs, wires, both distributor hubs, PCV valve and still having the same issue. Any Ideas? motor has 208K on it and I love the truck!

 

[brother rat]

Is there any particular reason that you took the truck to a mechanic and then chose to ignore their advice?

 

[RonD]

Pull off the valve cover, #3 intake valve is probably bad/gone, and/or a hole in the piston
Compression stroke is pushing oil out into the intake and "air filter", or via the Vent tube
Vacuum line probably got pushed off which is why there is oil everywhere

Depending on the condition of the piston you may get away with redoing the head or replacing it.

 

[Road Angels]

oily

If the shop said you needed a new motor he was right, and did you the favor 0f not pulling the head and billing you for all that labor, you lost a piston, if you have the skill do as RonD says, if not time to part it out, if its not real nice

 

[97ranger763]

Brother, He hooked it up the computer and told me it needed a new motor, when I got it home I found that the #3 plug wire where it hooks into the distributor block was burnt out, I was a little skeptical that he did not even check to see if the plugs or wires or anything else was bad just wanted 3500 for a used motor. I am in the process of pulling the top end out of it and checking the pistons, rings, and going to have the valve guides checked when I get that far.

 

[ricardo93]

If oil was everywhere its not gonna be from a burnt out spark plug

 

[RonD]

Brother, He hooked it up the computer and told me it needed a new motor, when I got it home I found that the #3 plug wire where it hooks into the distributor block was burnt out, I was a little skeptical that he did not even check to see if the plugs or wires or anything else was bad just wanted 3500 for a used motor. I am in the process of pulling the top end out of it and checking the pistons, rings, and going to have the valve guides checked when I get that far.

You are correct, I wouldn't trust that diagnosis either if that was all he did.
Compression test on #3 would have been minimum, and even then it wouldn't tell you if it was valve or piston issue.