2.3L & 2.5L I4 Tech General discussion of 2.3L and 2.5L I4 Ford Ranger engines.

Which engine do I have, Lima or Duratec?

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Old Dec 29, 2015
  #1  
Tanker3278's Avatar
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Which engine do I have, Lima or Duratec?

Which engine do I have, Lima or Duratec?

Wiki Ranger Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_R...North_America)

Wiki Lima page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine


Wiki Duratec page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Duratec_engine

Wiki Mazda L page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_L_engine


Lima: Ford engine, designed in-house.
Single Over-Head Cam (SOHC) with 2 valves per cylinder. Was a Pinto engine built at the Lima, Ohio plant. Has be produced in 2.0L, 2.3L, and 2.5L varients for use in the Rangers with the 2.3L Lima being the most numerous. Used from 1983 to mid-year 2001.

Duratec: Mazda engine.
Dual Over-Head Cam (DOHC) with 4 valves per cylinder. Is the "L engine" Ford acquired through their relationship with Mazda. Used from mid-year 2001 until the end of Ranger production in 2012.
 

Last edited by Tanker3278; Dec 29, 2015 at 11:42 PM.
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Old Dec 30, 2015
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very nice

"Duratec is a brand name of the Ford Motor Company used for its gasoline-powered four-cylinder, five-cylinder and six-cylinder passenger car engines"

Duratec 2.3l is a variant of the 2.3l Mazda L 23EW engine

Rangers got the Mazda L 23NS, Ford cars got the 23EW
NS = North-South
EW = East-West

NS orientation is for Rear Wheel Drive, engine mounted front to back
EW for Front Wheel Drive, engine mounted sideways

2.3l Mazda L was designed as 23EW, so when mounted in the Ranger NS there is a cooling system connection at the rear of the head/block which can only be accessed with transmission removed.
If transmission is ever removed it is a good idea to service this connection and hose.
 
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Old Oct 10, 2019
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some other isues with the Duratec 2.3L

Not only is there a coolant connector on the back of the head/block.
There is also the coolant sender unit (not sensor) for the gauge.
The EGR valve is also there. No clearance to remove bolts. You can't even see it without removing the cam cover.

For us old school people, when we see a timing chain & sprockets, we think nothing can go wrong. Well here's the curve ball !
Ford/Mozda, instead of using key-ways or splines on crank/cams, they use a friction washers.
3 are used. One each: between the crank to oil pump sprocket, one between the oil pump to lower cam sprocket, and one between the lower cam sprocket and the harmonic balancer.

If one of the friction washer(s) slip(s). Cam and/or ignition timing will be off.
If one of two behind the lower cam sprockets slips, the crank and cam position sensors can remain in sync, never throwing a PCM code.
How many of those are in the junk yard????
 
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Old Oct 10, 2019
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Actually its a Mazda L engine, Ford just renamed it Duratec

Mazda used it in many cars, Mazda 3 and 5, been a fairly good engine over all

A slightly changed version with added turbo became the 2.3l Ecoboost, used in quit a few Fords and the new 2019 Ranger model as well

Yes, the lack of keyways has become standard in most new engine design and building, reduces overall cost in machining aspect
 
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Old Jan 1, 2020
  #5  
Ford94Ranger's Avatar
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From: Findlay
'94 Lima 2.3 4x2 197,223 miles 5-speed
 
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Old Jan 2, 2020
  #6  
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Originally Posted by RonD
Actually its a Mazda L engine, Ford just renamed it Duratec

Yes, the lack of keyways has become standard in most new engine design and building, reduces overall cost in machining aspect
Still think it's shitty idea, that's why I'll never buy a new car.
Something like that may fail long out of warranty and bend any number of valves and when that happens, car companies expect the consumer to blow major money (for most people) on another !
And really, how much would it have added to the end sticker price to put some proper key ways in ???

Stupid bean counters !
 
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Old Jan 2, 2020
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Well, WE are a part of that, and the cheap China made parts we buy

Price is a big deal to most buyers.........................of any thing

And surprisingly enough these keyless fittings don't fail that often

But I agree, wouldn't cost that much more to ease my mind, lol
 
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Old Feb 14, 2025
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-VWNate1's Avatar
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Icon5 2.5 Duratech Engine

2.14.2025

? Why are there no pictures ? .

 
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Old Feb 15, 2025
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2011Supercab's Avatar
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Originally Posted by -VWNate1
2.14.2025

? Why are there no pictures ? .
Because photobucket deleted everyones pictures a few years ago, you'll find many threads the same way all over the forum.
 
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Old Feb 15, 2025
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Icon14 Deleted Photos

Thank you for the explanation .

 
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