New to me 2000 Ranger- got a few questions!

[askthemasses]

xpost because I'm new to the forum and not sure the best place for these questions.

Just bought it today, 3.0 V6. Owner hadn't driven it in a year but it fired right up with a jump. Since then it's started every time so it seems the battery is OK somehow!

First worry is that upon checking the oil, it seems REALLY high. Like, is that even possible? I drove it home and nothing catastrophic happened, and I'll change the oil ASAP but could any engine damage have happened?



Second, upon further inspection at home, there are 3 of one tire size and one of another. One tire was 225/70/15 and three were 235/75/15. Again, getting new tires ASAP but any serious harm that could've been done from this? The dude I bought it from drove it MAYBE 10 miles, then it sat for a year because he bought a fancier newer truck. Also this is on one of the tires, so YAY glad it didnt explode on my way home.



Gave it a new air filter, PCV valve, plugs, wires, wiper blades- oil change tomorrow.

 

[Denisefwd93]

Welcome to TRS! I always check the oil when cold otherwise it's all over the dipstick. Check your door sticker before you get new tires that way you don't throw off your spedometer calibration. Good luck with your new ride!

 

[askthemasses]

Welcome to TRS! I always check the oil when cold otherwise it's all over the dipstick. Check your door sticker before you get new tires that way you don't throw off your spedometer calibration. Good luck with your new ride!

Yea good call on checking the door sticker. I checked oil cold AND hot and still looks like that on the dipstick. Never seem anything like it before.

 

[Denisefwd93]

You didn't post a picture of the truck, so maybe it really didn't get one lol.
I guess you could drain some oil out start over again.

 

[Curious Hound]

I was always taught to check it warm. But a quick Google search shows both methods. Do what the owner's manual tells you. If Ford says check it with engine warm, then they have calibrated the dipstick to read correctly that way. And vice versa. I always pull the stick, wipe it clean, then fully insert it and pull it again to check the level. That gets rid of the " oil all over the stick" problem.

Sometimes it's fun to push it in and out several times.

This message composed solely of recycled electrons. Go green!

 

[txgocartB3000#2]

Welcome.

Take a whiff of the dipstick and see if there’s a gasoline smell. Hopefully no since that could be a fuel injector sticking open and having gas run down the cylinder.

Not likely but possible. Previous owner could of just put in to much.

Doesn’t look milky so water/coolant is not mixing in.

Ray

 

[pjtoledo]

are you worried about the level, or color? Royal Purple is a hi-dollar oil that is purple.

 

[askthemasses]

are you worried about the level, or color? Royal Purple is a hi-dollar oil that is purple.

The level. Like twice as high as MAX fill line.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

I *have* seen that before (the oil all over the dipstick). I usually see it when I don't wipe the dipstick off. When you're checking oil (and I've *always* checked it cold), pull the stick out, wipe it off, push it all the way in, pull it out, look at it (it should be between the full and add marks), and then put it back in. The dipstick is *usually* calibrated so that the add mark is down One quart (Liter for us Canadians, who use sensible units of measure!). As long as it's between the two lines, you don't need to add oil. If it's on the add line, add one Liter. If the stick is dry, add one Liter, check it again, and if it's still below the Add mark, add another.

EricB, get your mind out of the gutter!

 

[askthemasses]

I *have* seen that before (the oil all over the dipstick). I usually see it when I don't wipe the dipstick off. When you're checking oil (and I've *always* checked it cold), pull the stick out, wipe it off, push it all the way in, pull it out, look at it (it should be between the full and add marks), and then put it back in. The dipstick is *usually* calibrated so that the add mark is down One quart (Liter for us Canadians, who use sensible units of measure!). As long as it's between the two lines, you don't need to add oil. If it's on the add line, add one Liter. If the stick is dry, add one Liter, check it again, and if it's still below the Add mark, add another.

EricB, get your mind out of the gutter!

Definitely wiped the stick clean every time- still came back like that. I dont know much, but I know to wipte the dipstick!

 

[pjtoledo]

sounds like it's time for an oil change to be certain what and how much is in it.
that's a good idea on any used purchase.

 

[Ranger850]

. I dont know much, but I know to wipte the dipstick!

SAME

 

[fastpakr]

Go ahead and change the oil just as a matter of maintenance. Smell what comes out for fuel contamination, and measure how much you drain.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Go ahead and change the oil just as a matter of maintenance. Smell what comes out for fuel contamination, and measure how much you drain.

+1

It looks old and thin from the picture.

Make sure it is running smoothly and has good oil pressure. Get a real gauge and don't really put a ton of faith in the analog idiot light factory gauge to at least get a baseline.

 

[askthemasses]

Oil change seemed to have helped. Didn't get a good measure of how much came out, but at least the dipstick is reading a reasonable level!

And yes, I wiped it this time too

Now if only I could get the window to roll ALL THE WAY UP and not leave a 1/2" gap