Just need confirmation...

[Millster]

Well, it does get stranger. I had run down to a quarter of a tank so it was time to fill up again. Logged about 10 miles after the fill-up, had a couple of jerks in there but on my trip home from work (which includes pulling a nasty hill in stop-and-go), I had 0. Nothing. Truck ran perfectly. Could all that insanity simply have been nasty gas?
I'm planning to leave it alone this weekend barring any unfortunate incidents today, but this really has me wondering now.
Meh, goofy Ranger.

 

[IMenriched]

Well, it does get stranger. I had run down to a quarter of a tank so it was time to fill up again. Logged about 10 miles after the fill-up, had a couple of jerks in there but on my trip home from work (which includes pulling a nasty hill in stop-and-go), I had 0. Nothing. Truck ran perfectly. Could all that insanity simply have been nasty gas?
I'm planning to leave it alone this weekend barring any unfortunate incidents today, but this really has me wondering now.
Meh, goofy Ranger.

is your fill tube to the gas tank deteriorated/ing??

yeah bad gas can give a host of issues.
have you changed the fuel filter yet? odds are good that you don't have 2 fuel filters....but you might, some have reported that there is another filter in the reservoir.

but considering what you found...missing screw on the TFI and melted wires plug to the O2 sensor....these certainly weren't helping your situation

 

[Millster]

Nope. Fill tubes look good. I've definitely checked that stuff.
As I stated before, I changed the inline filter at the bottom of the engine bay. Have not taken on the reservoir yet, though. I'm not sure if I'm going to mess with the thing at all this weekend. I've kind of enjoyed the past couple of days NOT smelling like gasoline and the grease is finally starting to wear off of my hands.

Somehow, I would not be surprised to find a filter in the reservoir of my truck. I do NOT think this thing was well maintained by the original owner as far as mechanicals. Well, the copious oil leaks it had when I got it would definitely indicate that. But I suppose he/she did something right because it DID make it to a documented 213,000.

Anyway, if it makes it home tonight without trouble then it'll earn a reprieve from the wrench for the weekend. We'll just see how things go.

Thanks again for all the help, guys. SOOO glad I found this site!

 

[Millster]

Well, the Ranger made it home tonight just fine. It's actually back to its pre-death self. Slight loss of power once the engine gets hot so I know I'm dealing with plugged cats but I've long suspected this. Looking for a solid dual-inlet universal to get that replaced. I'll be examining the reservoir to see if there is a filter/bunch of crap in it, replacing the melted O2 sensor and I may end up replacing the high-pressure pump under warranty because it really doesn't sound healthy.
I'm thinking I had something nasty in the fuel lines and once I got the pressure back up/filled up with good quality fuel, I blew it out. Even the lifter clack is better. I have to say, I've always loved this truck even when it has frustrated the Hell out of me and now I know why. When it comes down to it, it won't let me down.

 

[Millster]

Strange keeps getting stranger...

Ok guys and gals (if there are any).
This truck is REALLY beginning to confuse me. It's now running proper. At least, almost. The stuttering is almost gone. I was able to get my son across town to school and myself back across to my office without incident. It was only when I went to pick my boy up and bring him home that it started acting up at all and this was just the "old" plugged cat syndrome. It had run too long, too hard and couldn't breath anymore.

But here's where I'm confused, folks. I have a strange sound. I only hear it when I'm in the cab or standing dead-center in the bed of the truck. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner running. I've noticed it's slightly louder if I pull up the boot around the shift levers. Any thoughts on what in the world I'm hearing? It's not the HP fuel pump. I've checked that (it's noisy but not THAT noise). My clutch and tranny are a little noisy, but this noise does not change with the clutch in or out. It's just constantly there. I thought it was my intake (have a cone on the end of the stock tube) but that didn't seem to be it.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Millster]

Just wanted to post one last thing in this thread to once again thank everyone who provided me with information whilst I was trying to get the truck running. You kept me both from going insane and also on the road, for the largest part!

I've now got the truck running entirely proper, but in the meantime, found a deal on a Saab 9000CSE that I could not turn down. I have put the Ranger up for sale (it's actually listed here on the site, too). Just decided that a truck wasn't really for me as a daily driver and it lacked some of the creature comforts my new Saab has afforded me.

In any case, thanks everyone, again! Very glad I found this site and honestly, hate to be leaving.