1990 Ranger Truck keeps chugging.
 

I have a 1990 Ford Ranger 4x4; 6 cyc. 2.9

When I drive it the engine will start to surge, kinda chugging, it won't do it all the time, but it is getting much worse. It is eating up gas like crazy, my gas gauge doesn't work so I usually go by my mileage, I can go about 230 miles before it starts to get low. I have run out of gas 2x's now and it is barely getting to 189 miles.

Little history of my truck, when we got it the person told us that his son went down a street that was flooded and it stalled, they pulled it out. It was his son's truck and because he drove it down the street that was flooded; being irresponsible, he took it away from him and was selling it. Now that was his story.

The truck ran and everything, "just looked" like it needed a little work. After getting it home we found out that it must have been in the water for some time. Cleaned it out got out all the water, or at least we hope/thought we did. (This was about 16 months ago)

We have replaced the motor; with a 1986, only 40,000 miles on it. Changed the spark plugs, replaced the fuel filter, oil & filter, transmission fluid, In fact I believe we had the transmission rebuilt as well. We tried to put a new gas sensor so my gauge would work but the bolts on the truck bed were to rusted to do it and we just don't want to drop the tank, so I am just living with it not working. We have put some stuff in it to get rid of any water in the gas tank too.

Anyway we are stumped what to try next. I may have left out some other things we have tried cause my husband has worked on it so I am not completely sure. I love this truck, except for the way it is running!

Please give us some suggestions on what else we can try. It has always had a little chug to it, but it is getting really bad now. Sometimes at stop lights it looks like I am stepping on and off the gas/break rocking back and forth.

Please help me save my little red 4x4!

Linda

I would make sure there is no water in the fuel. No mater how much stuff you put in there to get rid of it, it will still be there.

Heck I have run out of gas twice! I know how many miles I can go before it is starting to run low, usually 238 miles or so, but now it is running out at 189 miles. You'd laugh, the last time it ran out, my son drove it last, didn't put any gas in, didn't know it. Put our boat in the water, went out for the day, when we came in it started raining, we backed up to the water, pulled the boat on the trailer, and when we went to pull it out.... we ran out of gas! The tide was coming in, it was raining and everyone had pretty much left for the day. Luckily we found a couple of guys who lived close brought us some gas and we were able to get our truck out. The water was already up to the rims of the tires!

What is the best way to get out any water there may be in the tank out? And do you think that would be the reason for it running so bad?

I'm tired of getting stranded.... I know fill up before you get low!

The water will be in the bottom of the tank (if there's some in there. The easiest would be to either pull the bed or tank and siphon it out. Do that, then replace the fuel filter. I guess if you wanted you could replace the fuel filter first and see if water is in it.