i have a 2001 V-6 3.0 ranger and i am running rich. i can smell the fuel in the exhaust and i am sputtering at low rpms. i was told that the MAF could need cleaned or replaced and that could cause me to run rich. i was wondering if anyone else could confirm or has any other ideas as to what would cause this. my gas mileage has been lowered very noticeably. i recently changed the plugs, wires, air filter. the engine is firing properly (no codes except an old one for emissions?) all things were changed after the problem started. i went from getting just over 300 miles per tank to about 180-200 so a pretty drastic drop in MPG, i thought.

please help.

thanks,

doug

 

i put my money on o2 sensors... but maf could do it to, maf is easiest to clean, pull it out, and spray it down with an airisol made for that type of use... do not touch it with anything, not a cloth/rag/q-tip/fingers... if anything bends even slightly, it won't run right. it does get it cleaner, but it's not worth the risk of damaging it... not sure what it is worth on here, but i know my 89 mustang's was $300 for a new one, and used are next to impossible to find

 

I've got a brand new 3.0 MAF for sale, never used. PM me if you want it - cheap.

 

don't know if you were able to buy the maf from Jp7; but the maf can richen up your fuel when reading wrong. They sell MAF cleaner at advance/auto zone. it DOES work as it evaporates almost instantly and leaves little to no residue. whereas carb cleaner evaps but not that fast. I know for my 96 cougar they were only 80 bucks which I thought was expensive. 300 YIKES. I don't look forward to that. I would clean it everytime you do an oil change or air filter, etc.

I don't know much about the O2 sensors. I remember if the cougar would started idling like DUMP as soon as turning it on I would just floor it up to about 4k rpms and it would usually cause it to go away. It's basically just causing it to flood and run rough I THINK. but I dont know what's causing you to run so rich.

I guess I could have just said...any updates?