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- Joined
- Mar 26, 2018
- Messages
- 774
- City
- Brighton, CO
- Vehicle Year
- 2002
- Engine
- 3.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
- My credo
- Friend of Bill W.
Finally found a decent and knowledgeable local mechanic to attack the oil leaks in my 2002 4WD Ranger XLT. This truck has 141,000 miles on the 3.0L. I inherited this truck from my Dad in 2015 along with a host of problems most of which I could fix.
The oil leaks were another issue and got bad enough according to the wife that something had to be done. I assume valve cover gaskets since it was stinking after a long drive and this site noted oil pan gasket leaks.
I also knew there was a coolant leak around the front timing case cover and this site said to watch for pitting in the aluminum sealing surface.
Sadly I have no garage space to pull the automatic transmission necessary to remove the oil pan. Hence, the local mechanic.
Cost me $3,600 by the time it was finished but I really cannot complain.
The valve cover and oil pan gaskets were bad. The timing case cover was pitted. The harmonic balancer had been buggered up and installed at some point with lock-tight requiring a replacement. The water pump was leaking. The ignition wires were burned. I purposely had the troublesome #4 fuel injector replaced. The front axle/differential bolts were loose and some brackets were missing (past Ford dealership). Mechanic replaced the rear main seal while trans was out.
Also the drained coolant was UGLY! I don't think Dad had ever changed it and mechanic told me to flush it again until it comes clean!
All makes me envious of you with a dedicated work space let alone a lift. Damed HOA won't let me work outside on the driveway and I get the garage to myself one week a year when the wife and sister-in-law leave for the mountains.
The oil leaks were another issue and got bad enough according to the wife that something had to be done. I assume valve cover gaskets since it was stinking after a long drive and this site noted oil pan gasket leaks.
I also knew there was a coolant leak around the front timing case cover and this site said to watch for pitting in the aluminum sealing surface.
Sadly I have no garage space to pull the automatic transmission necessary to remove the oil pan. Hence, the local mechanic.
Cost me $3,600 by the time it was finished but I really cannot complain.
The valve cover and oil pan gaskets were bad. The timing case cover was pitted. The harmonic balancer had been buggered up and installed at some point with lock-tight requiring a replacement. The water pump was leaking. The ignition wires were burned. I purposely had the troublesome #4 fuel injector replaced. The front axle/differential bolts were loose and some brackets were missing (past Ford dealership). Mechanic replaced the rear main seal while trans was out.
Also the drained coolant was UGLY! I don't think Dad had ever changed it and mechanic told me to flush it again until it comes clean!
All makes me envious of you with a dedicated work space let alone a lift. Damed HOA won't let me work outside on the driveway and I get the garage to myself one week a year when the wife and sister-in-law leave for the mountains.
