Hey this is a dumb question but what is this?

 

While I"m not terribly familiar with the 2.0 and 2.3 engines, that appears to be an oil pressure sending unit or a coolant temp sending unit.



GB :)

 

+1 ^^^^

That is the oil pressure sender, and just below it is the Coolant Temp sender

Drawing here: http://repairguide.autozone.com/znet...3f8021b7e1.jpg

You have a Lima SOHC engine, also called The Pinto engine since it was first used in a Ford Pinto in 1974, Ford made these in 2.0l, 2.3l and 2.5l displacements
Ford also used a Turbo'ed 2.3l Lima in some of their cars over the years, but not in Rangers

Rangers used them from 1983(first Ranger) to mid-year of 2001(1998 to 2001 was the Stroked 2.5l Lima), and that was the last of the Lima/Pinto engines

Rangers got the 2.3l DOHC Duratec engine in late 2001, so Rangers had TWO different 2.3l engines, which can be confusing if you Google 2.3l Ranger engine

Some good info here on the Lima engines: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-guide.317117/

 

Thank you both very much! Very helpful!

 

Oil pressure sensor.

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