the Cat is choking????

[Buddha62]

i have a 92 ranger with 2.3, 8 plug head, and am getting really poor mileage. instead of getting 25-28 on the highway i'm only getting 17-18mpg. someone suggested that the Cat or egr valve is clogged up. i know i can remove the EGR and clean it up but what about the cat and how can i tell if the cat is clogged???
after cleaning the egr valve is there anything else i need to clean???

any other ideas why the poor mileage???

the truck runs good and strong just poor milage

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

There is no real way to clean a cat, when they go bad, they have to be replaced (even bad they are worth some money though at a scrap yard). A good exhaust shop will have a tool that they can run up the tailpipe an take a look around but I'm not sure if that will really tell you anything or not.

The o2 sensors could be bad as well. And there is a ton of other possible causes of bad mileage. I could write a novel explaining them all.

 

[Shran]

Plugs and wires?

Make sure your fuel pressure is within spec

Test your coolant temp sensor, replace if bad

17-18 is about where I'm at with mine too. I can get around 20 if I really try. My buddy's '94 is in the same area so I figured this was normal.

Please post back if you find something that actually works - I'd like to know.

 

[Buddha62]

well city i would expect 20mpg in the city but on the highway i should be around 25-30mpg.....
i got 19mpg with my 2.9 4wd on the same trip(130miles) and the engine is using oil and weak compression
a ford guy at autozone(known them awhile said it was a clogged EGR) so going to try cleaning that this weekend. the gasket is only $3
i checked the tube going to the EGR and it is loose and rattling and the coolent is kinda low.
the temp gauge doesnt work so that could be an issue??? where is it located???
is there a way to test the O2 sensor???
since there are 8 plugs in this head could plugs really be the problem cus if 1 or two plugs were weak wouldnt the other plugs make up for it????
any other ideas?????

 

[feellnfroggy]

No all the plugs work together. If you have a firing problem with one the comp picks up on it and compensates. Also it might not be your plugs, those engines are notorious for bad coils. remove the wire from the coil with the engine running, carefully, and space it about 1/8-1/4 inch and looks for spark. if no spark head to the local JY and replace it. The temp gauge can also be a real big issue with mileage from what ive read on here. The o2 sensor will only show up as aprob when you do you CEL test. However if the cat is clogged the o2 is prolly fine just gettin bad readings. Just do one thing at a time till its fixed starting witht he cheapest.

 

[Buddha62]

good news bad news...
well i checked the EGR valve today and it was fine and the intake was also clear so that is not the problem. i save money by not replaing the valve but still have poor milage. since my temp gauge doesnt work i am thinking that is next on the list. to check both temp sending sending units....
ummm.......... how do i check them????

 

[kimcrwbr1]

take the one with one wire and touch the wire to a good ground and if the guage reads hot you need the sensor. if you other guages work and and you touch the wire to ground and get nothing then it is a wire/connector or guage. are you getting any codes you can go to a part store and they can pull the codes for you make sure the engine is good and warm KOER.

 

[bmonee5]

would that be a bad thermostat? i just changed mine and it make a big difference on my 4L.

 

[RangerSVT]

You failed to mention how many miles you have on your odometer Also, your spark plugs have a unique firing order, there is a big misconception that they fire together, they don't. The dual plug head was designed not only to increase HP, but also reduce emissions. One plug fires on the compression stroke, the other plug fires on the exhaust stroke, completely burning any unburned fuel during the compression stroke, and in turn boosting power while eliminating unburned fuel venting to the atmosphere( it doesn't burn all 100% of the fuel, but more than a single plug would). While the 4 plugs on the intake side can be a pain to change, I recommend changing all plugs if you have more than 50K on the plugs. Make sure you go with a plug rated by the manufacture. I believe yours calls for platinums. Also, don't get bosch plugs they are junk in Fords and don't work well with Ford's ignition system, get either Motocraft or Autolite's
SVT

 

[hoosier1104]

I thought your actual feline type cat was choking. Wow very misleading title or I need to go to bed soon. I think it is the bed thing personally.

 

[Nater]

Thought it was misleading too...but at least he didn't put his "Chicken was choking."

 

[crawlin91]

the cat choking you say?....we can only hope. f'n hate cats

 

[77'cj7]

the Cat is choking????

No worries, it will be fine after it coughs up a hairball

 

[robertc1024]

Meow. hack hack gaaaaagh

 

[Hopman]

Best. Misleading. Thread. Title. EVAR!!!!

So, you find that hairball yet? As the owner of two cats (the real purring, four-legged kind) I usually find them first thing in the morning with my bare feet. YUCK!!!