Hi guys! I haven't been on here in a REALLY long time! I've been surfing the forums and thought I'd come back to share what happened to me.

I have a 2004 Ford Ranger with 3.0L and it has 68,000 miles.

I got the truck from my uncle that passed away about 2 years ago. He treated that truck like a baby. I kept really good care of it.

Well, we noticed that there was oil under neath it one day. I was going to take it for an oil change the following Monday and to see if they could tell me where it was leaking from. My husband added some oil in it just incase it was low.

Drove it the following night and noticed it was "ticking". Was really hoping it was just the low oil.

I took it to get an oil change the following day...it didn't stop ticking.

I took it to a mechanic and they told me it's in the lower part of the motor. So, that my best bet would be to put another motor in it.

16 hours or labor + motor = $3500

I took it to another mechanic that's a family friend. Today he called to tell us he did check the exhaust to make sure it wasn't it. And that he's going to try one more thing to see if maybe there is something inside the motor that may could fall out into the oil pan?

Anyways, husband and I haven't decided what we're going to do yet.

We're thinking of either trying to find a new motor and putting it in (husband can do it) or just selling it cheap (if anyone would even buy it).

What would YOU do?

 

At 68000 miles i would go for new motor with that low a mileage the truck is easily worth about $7,000-$10,000 depending on specs and body condition but with a blown motor maybe a third of that figure. So if your looking at 3500 to fix it seems well worth the investment to me anyway even if you sold it after you still make a bit of money off of it. Also if it was leaking if it was driven with low oil that probably caused whatever damage there is also a weak point on that motor is the camshaft synchronizer it uses a nylon gear that meshes with the metal cam gear causing it to wear prematurely mine went at 60,000 and that shaft drives the oil pump so if you get a new motor get a good aftermarket shaft to reduce the risk of another failure I've got 100,000 on my replacement now and not a bit of trouble.

 

A new engine shouldn't cost anywhere near 3500. Look around for prices. I just looked up a junkyard here in Anchorage and it was 800-1100 for another engine (and you have to do a bit of work to make sure you buy right engine to replace it with...there's information on this site). So if its 800-1100 in Alaska its probably 600 dollars there.

 

Agreed i can get a rebuilt bored and stroked motor for that type of money. Id say you could pick one up with relatively low miles for under a grand heck i paid 500 for my junkyard trans from LKQ with only 40,000 miles on it I'm sure an engine could be had for a few hundred more.