New and lost!!!

[jgr1974]

Hello new to this stuff. Bought this 86 ranger xlt. Good sheet metal. Not a gear head but learning!

ok, drove home (aprox 25 miles) couldn't get over 55 with pedal to the floor "low compression"? Ran a little hot. Got home noticed radiator empty. Filled with 50/50. Changed oil and filter today took for a short drive (OIL about 2 quarts low before change) drove aprox 25 miles stalled twice once at stop light 15 miles in trip, stalled again at a bout 24 1/2 miles from home engine was heating up last mile, pulled in to drive with radiator boiling over and smoke running out! Where should I start?

Jeremy

 

[jaymegriffiths]

Hello new to this stuff. Bought this 86 ranger xlt. Good sheet metal. Not a gear head but learning!

ok, drove home (aprox 25 miles) couldn't get over 55 with pedal to the floor "low compression"? Ran a little hot. Got home noticed radiator empty. Filled with 50/50. Changed oil and filter today took for a short drive (OIL about 2 quarts low before change) drove aprox 25 miles stalled twice once at stop light 15 miles in trip, stalled again at a bout 24 1/2 miles from home engine was heating up last mile, pulled in to drive with radiator boiling over and smoke running out! Where should I start?

Jeremy

thermostat and tune up first on list. cap roter fuel filter air filter plugs wires. anyone else have suggestions?

 

[jgr1974]

Thanks my friend!

I did change the air filter as well, will do the fuel filter too! ALso forgot to add the air filter was off the maf after overheating.

Jeremy

PS cap roter?

 

[IMenriched]

Before I'd put bunches of money into the even a vastly needed tune up....I'd be figuring out where the coolant is going. Hate to be the barer of bad news but the 2.9. is known for cracking heads. good news there is better produts out there to offset this isssue.

There is die you can put into the raditator and with niffty glasses or black light it will show where things are leaking. Most parts stores carrry it.

doing a compression check can also point to the leaking cylinder/s....or affected area.
fill your raditator, leave cap off, start it and once the T-stat opens watch for bubbles trailing back up to the fill hole.

 

[jaymegriffiths]

I did change the air filter as well, will do the fuel filter too! ALso forgot to add the air filter was off the maf after overheating.

Jeremy

PS cap roter?

MAF? i believe pre 1990 had speed density...

Before I'd put bunches of money into the even a vastly needed tune up....I'd be figuring out where the coolant is going. Hate to be the barer of bad news but the 2.9. is known for cracking heads. good news there is better produts out there to offset this isssue.

There is die you can put into the raditator and with niffty glasses or black light it will show where things are leaking. Most parts stores carrry it.

doing a compression check can also point to the leaking cylinder/s....or affected area.
fill your raditator, leave cap off, start it and once the T-stat opens watch for bubbles trailing back up to the fill hole.

+1
even putting stock replacement heades on it helps. just change the manifolds to some headers... stock 2.9 manifolds suck and contribute to the all too common head cracking issue. although my 88 has run stock heads and manifolds for 278,000km's with no issues. hmmm... maybe driving style?(causing cracks?)

I suspect that thermostat is sticking... would certainly make it heat up pretty quick