What did you do to your 2019 and up Ranger today?

[sgtsandman]

The FX4 got new front brakes, spark plugs and coil boots, a new DPFE sensor, and new coolant. I burped what air I could in the driveway, I'll bring along what's left to monitor the system as we drive to Colorado. The belt and pulley changes didn't go as planned. I couldn't get the clutch fan off and no one local has a pulley holder. So, the job will have to get done after the trip. I did change the one belt tensioner for the alternator belt but the idler pulley is buried behind the water pump pulley, which requires the clutch fan to be removed so that the water pump pulley can be removed. I also discovered I ordered two of the same belt. So the A/C belt got changed and I now have a spare. I also discovered there is two belt tensioners, one for each belt. So, that will also have to be addressed after we get back. The belts still have some time, since I was changing them early. It just would have been nice to have everything fresh before all the trail riding.

 

[superj]

bought a rear sway bar kit for the 24 from sohi performance since they are on sale and only 394 till the end of the month.

i emailed and they verified they have them in stock so free shipping and it will be here in a few days.

this should help with the sway and rocking from the wind while driving on the highway. i cannot stand having no rear sway bar on a vehicle and always add one to whatever vehicle that needs it that i own.

 

[CMOS]

bought a rear sway bar kit for the 24 from sohi performance since they are on sale and only 394 till the end of the month.

i emailed and they verified they have them in stock so free shipping and it will be here in a few days.

this should help with the sway and rocking from the wind while driving on the highway. i cannot stand having no rear sway bar on a vehicle and always add one to whatever vehicle that needs it that i own.

Are you towing something during this "sway"? Is this Ranger lifted?

I've never experienced any type of noticeable sway on mine, towing or not.


CMOS

 

[superj]

Are you towing something during this "sway"? Is this Ranger lifted?

I've never experienced any type of noticeable sway on mine, towing or not.


CMOS

No, its just really windy where i live. 25mph wind is almost daily and a day with no wind is unheard of.


I dont mine that wind though because without it, the temps would be over 100 degrees 8 months of the year, i bet. And then the 70-80% humidity makes it worse so i am always happy to have wind (unless putting on some kind of large sticker or tint).

The wind surfers love it. People move here just because they can wind surf/kite board year round.

 

[JohnnyO]

Dropped it off last night to get the trans fluid and filter changed today. Almost 100k on it and the tranny has been fine so far but we're renting a camping trailer for the TRS Fall Adventure.

 

[JohnnyO]

Dropped it off last night to get the trans fluid and filter changed today. Almost 100k on it and the tranny has been fine so far but we're renting a camping trailer for the TRS Fall Adventure.

Shop owner called to say he’d recommend leaving it alone. He said the filter is probably flowing around 80% and if you change it and add fresh fluid now you’re flowing 100% and the pressure is higher and will probably break something. Which was my original plan, just leave it go until it breaks. I pointed out that I had the fluid changed three times in my old Sport Trac and it crapped out at 130k anyway. He said if it was his truck he’d leave it alone.

 

[sgtsandman]

I replaced the engine and cabin air filter because of all the dusty roads in Colorado.

I'll be changing the transmission fluid and engine oil because they got pretty hot the first day on the trails. I learned somethings about the truck to keep that from happening again and never had a problem after that. I'll probably change the fluids in the axles and the transfer case as well since we did do some water crossings the last day on the trails towards the end of the day. So, the axles may have been hot enough to suck water in. Even if they didn't, it's cheap insurance.

The truck also needs a bath badly. Everything is coated in dirt, as one would expect after such an adventure.

 

[sgtsandman]

Fluid changes have commenced on the 2019 after an epic trip in Colorado. Part of the reason for the fluid changes are, the amount of miles driven, the truck engine and transmission got hot a couple of times before I figured out how to mitigate that, and there were some water crossings. Plus, the truck was well over due for a brake fluid change. The truck uses a special dot 4 LV brake fluid that can only be had by ordering it, not auto parts store stocks it on their shelves, even though Ford seems to use it in a good number of their vehicles. I had a 1 liter can on hand, just in case. It isn't enough to complete the job.

So, the fluids in the front end of the truck and the transfer case have been done, along with the front brake fluid being flushed. The engine oil has been changed because of the engine getting hot and it only had 25% life left in it anyway. I also narrowed down the oil leak that had developed over the trip. It does appear that the infamous bolt on the passenger side of the timing chain cover is the culprit and is a known issue with this engine. The wire harness that runs down that side of the engine is oil soaked from where it clips onto the bolt down to the bottom of the engine. Once the tool to hold the water pump pulley comes in and I can get the clutch fan off, I can address the leak and clean the rest of the engine I can't get to at the moment. The fix is to remove the bolt and wet install it with Permatex thread sealer after cleaning up any remaining residual oil. It has been a successful repair for others on other forums covering vehicles with the 2.3 Ecoboost engine.

So, that leaves the transmission fluid and filter (on order) and rear axle to be done, along with the rear brake lines being flushed. I do want to pick up another quart of Mercon LV for the transfer case since it seems to want more fluid than the quoted amount listed in the owner's manual and the service manual. The truck was on jack stands, so it is possible more fluid than normal drained out.

The truck has already had the dust hosed off and the body got washed the other day. I still need to use the Bissle to get the dirt out of the seats. But at least I'm not looking like Pig Pen every time I touch the truck now.

I'm also in the process of removing the mud terrain tires and installing the all terrain tires. I'm curious to see how much of an mpg difference there with be with the truck still configured to overland and having all terrain tires on it instead of the mud tires.

 

[JohnnyO]

Drained and refilled the radiator. Approaching 100k.
I've gotten away from doing a full flush. Several times on other vehicles the water pump took a powder not long after I flushed it from the water pump not being lubricated. Coolant is supposed to be good for 150k which I think is ridiculous so I just do a drain and fill every 50k.
Prestone Platinum meets the Ford Spec in the owner's manual.

 

[Snoranger]

Made the final payment.

 

[sgtsandman]

I finished up all the fluid changes, belt and pulley changes, and preventative maintenance on the 2019 yesterday. I just need to take it for a drive to get the transmission up to operating temperature to do the final check on the fluid level. So, it should be good until Spring.

All the fluids looked good even though the engine and transmission got hot during the Colorado trip ans we did do some water crossings the final day before heading up to the Overland Expo. Well, the transmission fluid and filter looked good for Mercon ULV since it turns dark fast.