2000 Ford Ranger XLT
4x4
3.0 L
190 k miles

I just had the head gaskets replace with a valve job. Trucks been running fine for 6-8 weeks. Yesterday, driving, 50mph, speeding up, I lose engine power, like running out of gas....vehicle doesn't turn off, but more of a sputter, again like running out of gas. This morning, cold start, listening to the idling, you can hear it cut off then back on.
My thought is possible dirty injectors or fuel pump or fuel filter. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

I don't like to suggest tossing parts at a problem to get "the fix", but in this case, when's the last time the fuel filter has been replaced?

Sounds like this could be a fuel delivery problem, and the fuel filter is the easiest to replace.

 

Fuel filter issue does first show itself at highway speeds, high fuel volume demand.
But shouldn't be an issue at idle, low demand.

But for $10 changing a filter never hurts.

Also clean the MAF(mass air flow) sensor, this tells computer how much fuel to add to the air coming in, dirty MAF can cause lack of power and "bucking" symptoms.

Loss of power could be lack of fuel, but could be incorrect fuel mix as well, as in EGR valve opening too much or when it shouldn't, this fouls up the air/fuel mix.
And this could also effect idle if EGR valve is leaking exhaust into intake at idle.

With engine idling remove vacuum hose on EGR Valve, there should be no vacuum present, if there is then that's your problem, EGR modulator or DPFE sensor is bad.
Ford DPFE sensor is a common failure, they last about 70k miles, 3rd party DPFE sensors last longer.
Normally this would cause CEL to come on, so it would be worth a trip to an auto parts store to get the trouble codes read for free, write them down.

 

by no vacuum present, what do you mean? how can you tell?

 

Put your finger on the end of the hose, if it sucks a hold you got vacuum present.

EGR valve should only have vacuum present when vehicle is accelerating hard, pulling a load or going up hill, i.e. engine is under a load
The cylinders will heat up under these conditions, so increased NOx emissions, exhaust gases cool cylinders down so lowers NOx, also prevents pinging, which can also occur as cylinders heat up.

 

fuel filter replaced, still same issue. Vacuum is present while idling, and I just replace the EGR a week ago. defective EGR?

 

As RonD stated: "EGR valve should only have vacuum present when vehicle is accelerating hard, pulling a load or going up hill"

If you have vacuum at the EGR at idle, it's not the EGR. Look at the EGR Valve Control Switch or the DPFE (Differential (or Delta) Pressure Feed Back Egr). Here is an excellent writeup I found to help test the Ford EGR system, even though it states 4.6 to 5.4 liter, they operate simular:

Part 1 -How to Test the Ford EGR Valve EGR Vacuum Solenoid, DPFE Sensor