Hey All,
I recently had a Cylinder 4 Misfire error code (2002 Ranger, 3.0 MFI)... and ended up changing the fuel injector for that cylinder. There are two different fuel injectors available. According to Napa, where i bought it... if the 8th digit of my VIN was a U, it was one injector... if it was a V... it was the other. Well, this just refers to whether you have the regular 3.0 MFI Engine, or the Flex 3.0. I have a U digit, and the regular 3.0 Engine.
Well... the problem is that after i picked put the injector and compared it to the old one i took out... they were different. The new one had a wider diameter intake opening, and wider angle spray nozzle side. And they had a different color molding. We compared it to the other one available, which is supposed to be for the Flex Engine/V Digit... and they were identical. So we opted to put in the identical one to the one that had been in the engine.
Now i'm getting a Cylinder 1 Misfire... and likely need to change out that Injector as well. (I'm assuming I may as well change 1-3 while I'm in there, since all are likely pretty dirty). My question: If those injectors are likewise identical to the ones that are supposed to be for the flex engine... and not my engine... should i go with what the computer says, or go with the identical injector?
(I'm curious to know if either Napa has the parts wrong in their computer, or if someone that had the Ranger before me had changed them and put the wrong ones in)....
Thanks...
Thomas

 

Flex fuel engine needed larger injectors to use ethanol fuel(E85), more fuel is required than when using gasoline.

Flex fuel computer is setup for the larger injectors, VIN V
Gas only is setup for smaller injectors, VIN U
Computer sets Lean/Rich codes based on the Pulse Width(open time) of the fuel injectors.
If you put larger injectors on a Gas Only engine/computer you could get Rich codes because computer is having to use shorter open time on the injectors because more fuel is flowing in than computer expects.
The engine should run fine, computer just thinks something is wrong with it's calculations so notifies the driver, by turning on the CEL and setting the code.

I have never had a problem with rebuilt injectors, usually runs $25-$30 each exchange, there is a local place in my city that rebuilds them so I can usually walk in with my old ones and walk out with rebuilt ones, no waiting.
Some auto parts stores also offer that.

 

Thats what we were thinking. So the new one i put in Cylinder 4, which was identical to the old one i was replacing... was the one that had the smaller diameter intake and smaller nozzle spray.... so sounds right. It's just that according to Napa this was supposed to be the injector for the flex engine. So i'm hoping it's just that Napa has it wrong in their computer. I'll buy the next one for Cylinder 1 from a different location... and see if its the same issue.
Thanks.

 

Flex fuel injectors are rated at 22.5lbs/hr(pounds/hour),

Gas only are 13.5lbs/hr