Hello everyone, new to the forum. I just bought my second ever Ranger, a 1994 2.3 4x2, 5 speed. It was dirt cheap, but seemed to run good. I have however discovered something concerning. Please be patient, I am no mechanic. I just need to have an idea of what to look for and have a good understanding of what's going on so I can tell the actual mechanic :)
Let me explain how the motor behaves in different situations.
A. Cold start: fires up immediately, a puff of smoke, idles and runs good.
B, Hot start if fired up very quickly after shut down (<1 minute): cranks a few times, but starts then blows a LOT of white smoke from tailpipe, idles rough. Eventually clears up after a five minutes or so.
C, Hot start after long heat soak (>5 minutes): cranks and cranks, only fires when throttle is put on floor (shuts down injectors?) a good bit of smoke, but not like B above.

Based on my searches there might be multiple issues.
1. A lot of white smoke sounds like coolant, but why would I be getting so much only on a hot start right after shutdown? Need new head gasket?
2. Possibly injectors worn out, not atomizing fuel so it doesn't want to start after heat soak.

What do you think? If I get this straightened out this will be a good little weekend truck.
Thanks for your help,
Mark

 

You get more white smoke on hot start up because the coolant is under pressure when the engine is hot, so more coolant is forced into the combustion chamber _ so more white smoke.

It starts poorly because coolant doesn't burn.

Do the glove test from Rons post. (3)

https://www.ranger-forums.com/2-9l-3...4/#post2126286

 

About your engine, if it's the twin over head cam Duratec, then make sure you find a mechanic that knows what he'd doing.
Special tools are needed and the correct procedure must be followed when the head is removed.
Make sure you get some sort of warranty.
There are no woodruff keys on the sprocket gears, there are special washers and whole lot of torque to keep the sprocket gears from turning.
Those special washers must be replaced when they're disturbed.

NO SHORT CUTS.

 

Well that makes sense... So starting an hour or so after shutdown gives enough time for the coolant to drop temp/pressure. Does that mean it's always burning off coolant while it's running, I just don't see the smoke?
As for the engine type, it's a 94 so if I'm not mistaken it is not a Duratec.
Thanks for your help, I'll try the glove test this week.

 

Then it's a Lima.
Not as much power, but way simpler and more reliable IMO.

And yes, it's always burning off coolant, but obviously not vey much.
Not enough so you notice it under normal driving conditions.

Check your plugs too, see of some appear cleaner then the rest.
The cleaner one is that way because the coolant turns to steam and cleans the carbon of the plug.

 

If the glove test doesn't show anything, white smoke can also be over fueling.