New guy from Flint, Michigan
#1
07-22-2016
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New guy from Flint, Michigan
Hey Guys. So I stumbled into your great site after I got my first truck.
A 1997 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0. Almost 300k on the odometer and this thing is running like a champ. Traded my motorcycle for it and could not be happier.
Anything I should be looking out for with this engine?
A 1997 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0. Almost 300k on the odometer and this thing is running like a champ. Traded my motorcycle for it and could not be happier.
Anything I should be looking out for with this engine?
#2
07-23-2016
Welcome to the forum.
3.0l Vulcan engine was used from 1986 to 2008 in Ford cars, vans and trucks
Rangers had them from 1991 to 2008
Very reliable engine, just change the oil and keep cooling system clean and working is about it.
1995 and up Ranger 3.0ls use Ford's Waste Spark system which uses a Coil Pack.
There are only 3 Coils in the pack so 2 spark plugs fire at the same time, so one spark is "wasted", hence the name.
Waste spark was the first spark system ever used back in the late 1800's so nothing new, your lawn mower probably uses it.
But one thing you should know is don't waste your money on single Platinum spark plugs.
Use regular copper or double platinum, because single platinum will wear out on one side of the engine the same as regular copper, so a waste of money.
1997 was the last year of the return style fuel system, it used 35-40psi at the fuel injectors and had a Fuel Pressure Regulator(FPR) with a return fuel line that sent unneeded gas back to the tank.
In 1998 Rangers got the Returnless fuel system and used 65-70psi fuel pressure.
Returnless has less parts so less expensive to install, but main reason for the switch was it kept fuel in the tank cooler so less vapor and better emission numbers
3.0l Vulcan engine was used from 1986 to 2008 in Ford cars, vans and trucks
Rangers had them from 1991 to 2008
Very reliable engine, just change the oil and keep cooling system clean and working is about it.
1995 and up Ranger 3.0ls use Ford's Waste Spark system which uses a Coil Pack.
There are only 3 Coils in the pack so 2 spark plugs fire at the same time, so one spark is "wasted", hence the name.
Waste spark was the first spark system ever used back in the late 1800's so nothing new, your lawn mower probably uses it.
But one thing you should know is don't waste your money on single Platinum spark plugs.
Use regular copper or double platinum, because single platinum will wear out on one side of the engine the same as regular copper, so a waste of money.
1997 was the last year of the return style fuel system, it used 35-40psi at the fuel injectors and had a Fuel Pressure Regulator(FPR) with a return fuel line that sent unneeded gas back to the tank.
In 1998 Rangers got the Returnless fuel system and used 65-70psi fuel pressure.
Returnless has less parts so less expensive to install, but main reason for the switch was it kept fuel in the tank cooler so less vapor and better emission numbers
#3
07-23-2016
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Location: Flint
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#5
07-25-2016
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#6
07-25-2016
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Flint
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