Rough Idle/ Odd Screaming Noise

[pitts43]

Hey everyone,

I have a 85 2.0 Ranger that has a big issue I could use all the help I can get.

Long story short the throttle cable got stuck leaving the throttle completely open while driving down the road. I tried to get the peddle unstuck, but had no luck. not knowing what to do I popped it into neutral, but since the peddle was on the floor stuck it was at max rpm's. I continued to put it in gear and try and release the peddle and again, no luck. Approaching a busy intersection, I placed the truck in neutral and proceeded to shut the truck off and get it into a parking lot.

After doing some quick investigating I noticed what the problem was. I un-jammed the throttle cable and when to start her up again. That's when a terrible screaming/ hissing sound came from the engine bay, as well as a extremely rough idle. I believe it to be a blown gasket. There is oil everywhere (but only on the drivers side) the oil is mostly by the carb.

Could this be a head gasket?

I appreciate all the help!

 

[tomw]

Take a look at the PCV vapor separator canister under the intake manifold. It is attached to the side of the block, higher and to the left of the oil filter. Might as well look at the filter too, as high pressure could blow out the gasket, though very unlikely. A final oiler on the side is the sending unit, on the side of the cylinder head, drivers side, rearward. It will have one wire on it. It may be the bakelite/metal mix even if you have the 'gauge' package,or the domed pressure transducer.
On EFI models, the PCV routes up in front of the intake and goes to the underside of the intake manifold. I'd check that the PCV hose has not gotten blown off your intake, wherever it connects. Follow the hose up from the vapor separator to check where it connects.

The rough idle points to a quick solution being an air leak letting in too much air beyond that normally coming in through the carburetor. If the PCV hose blew off, that would cause a bum idle.
tom

 

[Mark_88]

Yes, oil can be blown out of every opening on the engine...especially the dip stick tube. Mine used to coat the under side of the intake regularly from that handy opening and I thought it was a brilliant design by Ford...until I realized that the intake doesn't really need oil...

The noise you hear could be the alternator or water pump...mine made a loud squealing noise quite regularly, especially when I drove my little 2.0 hard. No fix for it really, I bought a reman alternator and it did the same thing right out of the box.

Like tomw said too, there could be a vacuum leak allowing too much air into the mix and causing the engine to run rough...so check all the connections for hoses and reconnect or patch holes as needed...could also be something to do with the idle speed...if your throttle stuck open and you had to pry on something then it could have bent the linkage...or messed with the idle setting (can't remember how those old Asian carbs were set)...

But check the throttle cable linkage over and see if anything got bent or is otherwise out of place...

As for blowing the head gasket...these are actually pretty tough little engines and a high rev situation is merely a good workout for them that they actually love...better under load so the rpm doesn't cause things to wear faster...especially when they spit up their lubricant everywhere...

 

[pitts43]

Thanks guys!

I took a look today and noticed my carb was loose. I tightened two nuts down and its running like it was. I believe that I still have a small vacuum leak, either on the carb gasket or the intake gasket. I'm still not aware of where the oil sprayed from. The dip stick? A buddy said the intake manifold gasket as well. Ill have to take a look. But again thank you for all the pointers! =)