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Hey fellas, I’m new to this page. I know this is kind of a long read, but I really need some advice.
I have a 1992 Ford ranger 2.3L that I just bought not too long ago and I’m in some need of others opinions because I’m stumped on where to even start. So my egr tube decided to pop like a soda can. When it popped, i had a rough, shaky, low idle. Assuming it must have built up pressure from a clogged egr valve or something, I put a used egr tube on it (since they’re impossible to find new), and i put a new egr valve on it as well. When I replaced those, It ran a lot better but i still had a shaky idle and poor power. So i replaced the timing belt. I timed it right and everything went good. It STILL had a shaky idle. I had court 8 hours away from me so I just sent it and hoped for the best. Well about an hour into my trip I was losing almost all power uphill. I had to go to really low gears just to barely make it up the hills. Then when it got kinda bad and i was just giving it to her. Then, my spark plug shot out of my cylinder and broke, the plug wire melted but it was still running so i drove till i could pull off (maybe a couple hundred feet). I stopped and turned the truck off and there was a lot of white smoke coming from my tailpipe, as well as the cylinder ( with the truck off). I’m assuming maybe a headgasket went bad or something, I dont know. Is my motor ruined? Is it an easy fix? Was it just a bad spark plug or over tightened or too loose by chance?
Last edited by Nostranger; Nov 30, 2021 at 12:57 PM.
The head needs to come off regardless, and then you can inspect the pistons and cylinder walls for damage
Also look at the remaining part of spark plug in the head and try to remove it, carefully, it could have been cross threaded
If pistons and cylinder walls look OK then head can be tested for cracks, unless you see an obvious crack
If piston or cylinder wall was damaged by spark plug failing then look for replacement engine, 1989-1994 only will work in your 1992
If miles are over 350k then you may want to just shop for a lower mile engine now, or just do a full rebuild on yours
The head needs to come off regardless, and then you can inspect the pistons and cylinder walls for damage
Also look at the remaining part of spark plug in the head and try to remove it, carefully, it could have been cross threaded
If pistons and cylinder walls look OK then head can be tested for cracks, unless you see an obvious crack
If piston or cylinder wall was damaged by spark plug failing then look for replacement engine, 1989-1994 only will work in your 1992
If miles are over 350k then you may want to just shop for a lower mile engine now, or just do a full rebuild on yours
So this means my head gasket is definitely bad? And I dont know how many miles is on it. It has reset and says its got like 800 miles on it, which it clearly does not lol.
